Yes, Starbucks’ Medicine Ball (Honey Citrus Mint Tea) contains caffeine from the green tea bag; the amount varies by size.
Herbal Swap
Medicine Ball
Brewed Coffee
Caffeine-Free Swap
- Replace green tea with Mint Majesty
- Keep Peach Tranquility for aroma
- Steamed lemonade + honey
Zero Caffeine
Standard Build
- 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach
- Half hot water, half lemonade
- Honey citrus flavor
Light Caffeine
Extra Boost
- Add 1 extra green tea bag
- Steep a minute longer
- Ask for less lemonade
More Caffeine
What’s In A Medicine Ball And Where The Caffeine Comes From
The popular “Medicine Ball” began as a customer hack and now lives on the Starbucks menu as Honey Citrus Mint Tea. It blends one bag of Teavana Jade Citrus Mint green tea with one bag of Peach Tranquility herbal tea, plus steamed lemonade, hot water, and honey citrus flavor. Because one bag is green tea, the drink isn’t caffeine-free. The actual caffeine depends on cup size, steep time, and the tea-to-lemonade ratio used at the bar.
Every Medicine Ball uses two sachets: Jade Citrus Mint (a green tea) and Peach Tranquility (an herbal blend). Only the green tea contributes caffeine. A grande on the U.S. menu shows a small range for caffeine because Starbucks lists tea values as estimates rather than exact lab numbers. The simplest way to think about it: expect a light hit compared with coffee, but more than a pure herbal infusion.
Caffeine By Size: Quick Table
Here’s a quick size guide based on Starbucks’ menu listings and typical prep in stores. Values reflect a single green tea bag steeped in half hot water and half steamed lemonade.
| Size | Caffeine (mg) | What’s In The Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Short (8 fl oz) | 10–20 | 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach Tranquility |
| Tall (12 fl oz) | 15–25 | 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach Tranquility |
| Grande (16 fl oz) | 16–25 | 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach Tranquility |
| Venti (20 fl oz) | 20–30 | 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach Tranquility |
Once you glance at caffeine in common beverages, that range reads as gentle for a hot drink.
How Much Caffeine Is In A Starbucks Medicine Ball?
Starbucks lists the Honey Citrus Mint Tea at roughly 16–25 milligrams of caffeine for a grande, which fits a single green tea bag steeped in diluted liquid. A Starbucks brewed coffee can run near 235 milligrams per 16 ounces, and a straight shot of Starbucks espresso averages around 75 milligrams. So the Medicine Ball lands low on the spectrum for a warm, soothing cup. You can also pull up the beverage page to see calories and sizes on Starbucks’ site for a quick cross-check (Honey Citrus Mint Tea).
Steep time nudges the number. If the barista lets the green tea sit in the hot portion longer before topping with lemonade, you’ll extract a bit more. If you sip slowly and leave the tea bag in the cup, the count edges upward. Sugar and lemonade don’t add caffeine, so the honey citrus flavor only changes taste and calories. For perspective on daily totals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cites about 400 milligrams per day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects for most healthy adults (FDA guidance).
Ways To Cut Or Boost The Caffeine
Ordering tweaks give you control. Ask for the green tea to be removed after two to three minutes for a lighter cup, or swap Jade Citrus Mint for a caffeine-free sachet like Mint Majesty to make an herbal version. On the flip side, you can request an extra Jade Citrus Mint bag for more punch. Some stores will add a splash of hot water in place of part of the lemonade; that slightly raises extraction too.
Practical Adjustments You Can Request
Use these simple moves to dial your cup to the sweet spot you want.
| Goal | What To Ask For | What Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Make It Caffeine-Free | Replace Jade Citrus Mint with Mint Majesty or ask for two Peach Tranquility bags | Zero caffeine; flavor leans minty and citrusy |
| Keep It Light | Ask the barista to pull the green tea bag after 2–3 minutes | Lower extraction, softer tea notes |
| Add A Bit More | Request a second Jade Citrus Mint bag or a longer steep | Higher caffeine and brighter green tea flavor |
| Balance The Sweet | Ask for less lemonade and more hot water | Cleaner tea taste; caffeine per ounce may rise slightly |
Who Should Be Careful With Caffeine
Most adults tolerate modest caffeine intakes, yet sensitivity varies widely. If you’re pregnant, nursing, managing reflux, or taking medicines that don’t pair well with stimulants, ask a clinician about limits that fit your situation. Kids and teens should keep caffeine low. If you notice jitters, rapid heart rate, or sleep trouble, stop earlier in the day or switch to the herbal version.
Medicine Ball Caffeine Compared With Other Starbucks Drinks
Context helps the numbers make sense. A grande Medicine Ball carries less caffeine than a single shot of espresso. It’s also far below a typical caffe latte or a brewed hot coffee of the same size. Even a plain iced green tea at Starbucks can clock higher because it’s made with concentrated tea and ice dilution, not lemonade. Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose the feel you want:
- Starbucks espresso (1 shot): ~75 mg
- Caffè Americano (grande): ~225 mg
- Brewed coffee (grande): ~235 mg+
- Iced green tea (grande): often ~25–45 mg
- Medicine Ball/Honey Citrus Mint Tea (grande): ~16–25 mg
How To Order The Medicine Ball Like A Pro
Use the official menu name to avoid confusion: “Honey Citrus Mint Tea.” Standard build is one Jade Citrus Mint sachet, one Peach Tranquility sachet, half hot water, half steamed lemonade, and a pump of honey citrus flavor. If your store doesn’t stock the syrup, a packet of honey works. You can request kids’ temperature for easy sipping or extra ice if you want it cooler without changing caffeine. The Starbucks product page lists sizes and basic nutrition so you can plan your day around one cup when you need a warm lift (Honey Citrus Mint Tea).
A Simple Home Method With The Same Profile
You can brew a similar cup at home with two tea bags, hot water, lemon, and honey. Steep the green tea for two to three minutes in about six ounces of hot water, remove it, then add six ounces of warmed lemonade or water with lemon juice and honey. Drop in the herbal bag for aroma and taste while you drink. Expect the same light caffeine since only the green tea contributes.
Straight Answers To Common Questions
Does A Starbucks Medicine Ball Have Caffeine?
Yes. The green tea bag provides a small dose.
Is The Drink Fine Late In The Day?
If caffeine keeps you awake, order the herbal swap or set a cutoff about six hours before bed.
Can You Make It Stronger?
Ask for an extra Jade Citrus Mint sachet or pick a latte instead.
What’s A Caffeine-Free Option With Similar Taste?
Try Mint Majesty plus Peach Tranquility with steamed lemonade and honey.
Does The Honey Citrus Mint Tea At Starbucks Contain Caffeine?
Yes. Honey Citrus Mint Tea includes Jade Citrus Mint green tea, so it isn’t caffeine-free. The amount is modest, usually within the teens to mid-twenties in milligrams for a grande. Sizes above or below that change the range only a little because there’s still a single green tea bag unless you add another.
Best Time To Drink A Medicine Ball
If you’re sensitive to stimulants, avoid the cup close to bedtime. Many people sleep better when they stop caffeine at least six hours before turning in. Morning or early afternoon is friendliest for most. When you only want heat, lemon, and honey without any buzz, order the herbal swap.
Bottom Line For Caffeine In A Medicine Ball
A Starbucks Medicine Ball carries a small amount of caffeine from a single green tea sachet. Expect roughly 16–25 milligrams for a grande, with light variation based on steep time. You can dial it down to zero with an herbal swap or push it up slightly with an extra green tea bag.
Want broader context on tea strength? Try our look at caffeine in a cup of tea.