Honey Citrus Mint Tea Starbucks Recipe. Easy and Healthy

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This honey citrus mint tea Starbucks recipe recreates the drink also known as the Medicine Ball at home using just 5 ingredients. The tea steeps in hot water for 5 minutes, then gets sweetened with honey for a soothing citrus and mint flavor that tastes just like the original.

The Starbucks honey citrus mint tea recipe takes 10 minutes total and makes 2 servings. Success depends on using both Jade Citrus Mint and Peach Tranquility tea bags together, since that combination creates the signature flavor. The tea keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and reheats well on the stove or in the microwave.

Why This Honey Citrus Mint Tea Starbucks Recipe Works

Honey Citrus Mint Tea Starbucks Recipe

Honey Citrus Mint Tea Starbucks Recipe

Recipe by Soukayna

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: DrinkCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

Adjust servings

+

–

2

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

5

minutes

Calories

70

kcal

This honey citrus mint tea recreates the Starbucks Medicine Ball at home using Jade Citrus Mint and Peach Tranquility tea bags, lemonade, and honey. The tea takes 10 minutes total, makes 2 servings, and tastes soothing with bright citrus and mint notes.

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Ingredients

• 2 cups water

• 1 Teavana Jade Citrus Mint tea bag

• 1 Teavana Peach Tranquility tea bag

• 0.25 cup lemonade

• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions

• Bring the water to a boil, then remove from heat and let it cool for 1 minute until it reaches about 200°F. Small bubbles should form at the bottom of the pot.
• Add both tea bags to the hot water and steep for exactly 5 minutes. Set a timer. The tea should smell fragrant and look golden green.
• Remove the tea bags and discard them. Stir in the honey while the tea is still hot until it dissolves completely.
• Pour in the lemonade and stir to combine. The tea will lighten slightly in color.
• Divide the honey citrus mint tea Starbucks recipe between 2 mugs and serve hot.

Notes

• Steeping both tea bags for exactly 5 minutes at 200°F extracts the citrus and mint oils without making the honey citrus mint tea bitter.
• If the tea tastes bitter, the water was too hot or the steep time was too long. Use water at 200°F and remove the bags at 5 minutes.
• The tea keeps for 2 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Substitute fresh lemon juice and sugar for lemonade if needed.

Nutrition Facts

• Serving Size: 1 g
• Total number of serves: 2
• Calories: 70kcal
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 0g

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This recipe uses the exact Teavana tea bags Starbucks uses. The sections below cover how to adjust the honey level, what to do if the tea tastes weak or bitter, and how to make a larger batch.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

These ingredients create the signature Starbucks flavor and texture.

• Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Tea: This green tea contains spearmint, lemon verbena, and lemongrass. It gives the drink its bright mint and citrus notes. Substitute any green tea with mint, but the flavor will be less complex.
• Teavana Peach Tranquility Tea: This herbal blend has peach, chamomile, and citrus. It adds the fruity sweetness and floral undertone. Substitute chamomile tea with a pinch of dried peach, but the drink will taste more herbal and less fruity.
• Honey: Raw or regular honey both work. Honey adds sweetness and a smooth mouthfeel. Honey contains antioxidants and may soothe a sore throat, though it does not cure illness. Substitute agave nectar or maple syrup, but the flavor will be thinner.
• Lemonade: Store bought or homemade lemonade adds tartness and cuts the sweetness. Use 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice plus 1 teaspoon sugar if you have no lemonade, but add it after steeping so the tea does not turn cloudy.

How to Make Honey Citrus Mint Tea

Follow these steps to get the right flavor balance and avoid bitterness.

• Heat the water to 200°F: Boil water and let it cool for 1 minute. Water hotter than 200°F makes green tea bitter. If you have no thermometer, stop when small bubbles form at the bottom of the pot.
• Steep for exactly 5 minutes: Set a timer. Steeping longer than 5 minutes extracts tannins that make the tea taste astringent. The honey citrus mint tea Starbucks recipe uses this timing to keep the flavor smooth.
• Stir in honey while the tea is hot: Honey dissolves faster in hot liquid. Cold tea leaves the honey clumped at the bottom. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons depending on how sweet you want it.
• Add lemonade after removing the tea bags: Lemonade cools the tea slightly and adds the citrus punch. Pour it in after steeping so the acidity does not interfere with the tea extraction.
• Taste and adjust: Add more honey if the tea is too tart, or more lemonade if it is too sweet. The balance should be equal parts soothing and bright.

Making a Larger Batch

To make 4 servings, use 4 cups water, 2 Jade Citrus Mint tea bags, 2 Peach Tranquility tea bags, 1/2 cup lemonade, and 2 to 4 tablespoons honey. Steep for 5 minutes and divide into mugs. The ratio stays the same no matter how many servings you make.

What Went Wrong

Why Does the Tea Taste Bitter?

The water was too hot or the tea steeped too long. Green tea turns bitter above 200°F or after 5 minutes. Next time, let boiling water cool for 1 minute before adding the tea bags. Remove the bags at exactly 5 minutes.

Why Is the Flavor Weak?

You used only one type of tea bag or the water was not hot enough. The honey citrus mint tea Starbucks recipe requires both Jade Citrus Mint and Peach Tranquility to get the full flavor. Use water at 200°F and steep for the full 5 minutes.

Why Is the Honey Clumpy?

You added honey to cold or lukewarm tea. Honey dissolves only in hot liquid. Stir the honey in right after removing the tea bags, while the water is still hot. If the honey has already clumped, reheat the tea gently and stir until smooth.

Recipe Variations

Iced Version

Steep the tea as directed, then refrigerate for 1 hour. Pour over ice and add the lemonade. The flavor is brighter when served cold, but the honey may settle at the bottom, so stir before drinking.

Extra Citrus

Add 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice per serving after steeping. This makes the tea more tart and less sweet. It works well if you prefer a sharper citrus flavor than the original Starbucks version.

Caffeine Free

Use only the Peach Tranquility tea, which is herbal and contains no caffeine. Double the number of Peach Tranquility bags to 2 per serving. The tea will taste more floral and less minty, but it keeps the soothing quality.

What to Serve With Honey Citrus Mint Tea

This tea pairs well with light breakfast foods such as toast, scones, or oatmeal. It also works as an afternoon drink with cookies or a fruit salad. The citrus and mint flavors do not overpower mild foods. Try it with ginger tea if you want another soothing warm drink option.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Honey citrus mint tea keeps for 2 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container or a sealed jar. The flavor fades after that and the honey may crystallize. Do not freeze this tea, because the lemonade separates and the texture turns watery when thawed.

Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes on high, or warm the tea in a small saucepan over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir before drinking, since the honey settles. The tea tastes best when reheated gently and not brought to a boil.

Honey Citrus Mint Tea Starbucks FAQs

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