Does Starbucks Medicine Ball Have Caffeine? | Sip Smart

Yes, Starbucks Medicine Ball (Honey Citrus Mint Tea) contains a small amount of caffeine from the green tea.

What’s In The Cup

The cozy Starbucks blend many fans swear by pairs one Teavana Jade Citrus Mint green tea bag with one Peach Tranquility herbal bag, steamed lemonade, and honey. Since the herbal portion is naturally caffeine-free while the green tea isn’t, the drink sits in the low range for caffeine among hot beverages on the menu. The brand lists the ingredients and nutrition on its menu page, but it does not publish exact milligrams for this item, so the best way to judge the buzz is by size, steep time, and whether extra tea bags were used.

Size Tea & Lemonade Honey Blend
Short (8 oz) 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach Tranquility; half hot water + half steamed lemonade 1 pump
Tall (12 oz) 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach Tranquility; half hot water + half steamed lemonade 2 pumps
Grande (16 oz) 1 Jade Citrus Mint + 1 Peach Tranquility; half hot water + half steamed lemonade 2 pumps
Venti (20 oz hot) Often 2 Jade Citrus Mint + 2 Peach Tranquility; half hot water + half steamed lemonade 3 pumps

For a quick comparison across drinks on your day, skim our caffeine in common beverages roundup after you pick your size.

The green tea component is the only source of caffeine here, while the herbal tea, lemonade, and honey contribute zero milligrams of caffeine. Starbucks confirms that Jade Citrus Mint is a green tea and that Peach Tranquility is a caffeine-free herbal blend on their menu pages, and the official drink listing frames this cup as warm, citrusy, and soothing, not as a high-energy pick-me-up.

How Much Caffeine You’re Likely Getting

Since the company doesn’t give milligrams, the smart estimate uses green tea norms. An eight-ounce cup of brewed green tea often lands around the high-20s to mid-40s per cup. Because the hot sizes here range from 8–20 ounces and the recipe uses one green tea bag in smaller sizes and often two in the largest, practical experience says your cup will taste gentle, not buzzy. A light steep and a Tall or Grande size keep things especially mellow.

Use this simple range when sizing up your order:

  • Short/Tall: a teens-to-20s milligram range is common, since only one green tea bag is involved and the herbal bag adds 0 mg.
  • Grande: often similar to Tall if brewed the same way (one green tea bag), landing around the high-teens to about 30 mg.
  • Venti: commonly brewed with two green tea bags, which can nudge you into the 30–40+ mg range, steep-time depending.

That spread is tiny next to brewed coffee, which usually sits in the triple digits per 16 ounces. If you’re sensitive, ask the barista to shorten the steep or switch the green tea bag for a second Peach Tranquility. That adjustment drops the caffeine to near zero while keeping the same cozy profile.

Medicine Ball Caffeine Facts For Real-World Ordering

Brewing Variables That Change The Buzz

Three things move the needle most: number of green tea bags, steep time, and water-to-lemonade ratio. A longer steep extracts more caffeine. A second Jade Citrus Mint bag increases it further. More lemonade dilutes the tea slightly. None of these change the herbal bag’s zero-milligram status.

Sizes, Estimates, And Trade-Offs

Keep these quick notes in your back pocket when you order:

  • Short/Tall: one green tea bag; gentle lift; easiest to keep low.
  • Grande: still one green tea bag in many stores; ask for a lighter steep if you want the calmest cup.
  • Venti: often two green tea bags; ask for one if you want less caffeine without changing flavor too much.

If your goal is a soothing cup while you’re under the weather or winding down in the afternoon, this blend fits that lane. Many tea drinkers report a clear and settled feel rather than a jolt, thanks to a modest dose of caffeine paired with mint and chamomile.

Close Variant: Caffeine In The Honey Citrus Mint Tea (What To Expect)

Because this drink mixes a caffeinated green tea with a caffeine-free herbal bag, the best descriptor is “low.” If you want the same flavor with even less stimulation, cut the steep to two minutes or request Peach Tranquility for both bags. The taste stays peach-mint-lemon forward, and the caffeine drops near zero.

If you compare it with straight green tea, remember that baristas often steep a bit stronger than a typical home brew. Even so, one bag plus a hefty splash of lemonade keeps the overall caffeine in check for Tall and Grande.

How To Order For Your Goal

Keep It As Low As Possible

Ask for Peach Tranquility in both sachets or request just one Jade Citrus Mint bag with a shorter steep. You’ll keep the citrus-mint aroma while skimming the caffeine down to a whisper. If sweetness is a concern, cut a pump of honey blend or ask for real honey, which can be drizzled by hand so you control the amount.

Stay In The “Light Lift” Zone

Stick with the standard build in Tall or Grande. If you want the same profile iced, order the hot version, let it steep, and ask for extra ice over the finished tea.

Warmth Without The Sugar Spike

Order it unsweetened and ask for no lemonade—just hot water with the two tea bags. You’ll land on pure tea flavor and the same caffeine as the original build for that size.

Nutrition, Allergens, And Ingredient Notes

The menu listing flags green tea, herbal tea, lemonade, and a honey-based sweetener. The calories come almost entirely from the lemonade and the honey blend. The teas bring negligible calories and zero fat. If you’re watching sugar, keep an eye on pumps and consider a half-sweet version. The Starbucks drink page outlines the components clearly, and Mayo Clinic’s caffeine table gives a helpful range for brewed green tea to frame expectations.

Here’s a compact comparison of how common tweaks change the cup:

Change Effect On Caffeine Flavor/Calories
Shorter steep Slightly lower Milder tea taste
Swap green tea for herbal Drops near zero Softer, more chamomile-forward
Extra green tea bag Higher Stronger tea backbone
No lemonade No change Less sweet; fewer calories
No honey blend No change Less sweet; fewer calories

Barista-Level Tips You Can Use

Steeping For Flavor Without Overdoing Caffeine

Ask for a two-to-three-minute steep on the green tea. That extracts plenty of flavor while keeping the caffeine on the lighter side. General references place brewed green tea around the 25–45 mg window per 8 ounces, so a light steep keeps you toward the lower end.

Size Math That Keeps You Comfortable

Picking Tall instead of Grande is the easiest way to keep caffeine modest. If you love a larger cup, ask for the bigger size but only one green tea bag. That balances warmth and volume with a gentle effect.

Sweetness Without Syrup

Honey blend is convenient but sweet. If you want a lighter cup, ask for one pump or request real honey so you can stir in just a touch. You’ll keep the citrus-mint sparkle without an extra sugar hit.

Answering Common Concerns

Is It Safe Late In The Day?

Most tea drinkers handle a small green tea dose in the afternoon. Sensitive sleepers should stick with Short or Tall, steep lightly, and keep the green tea to one bag. If you’re pregnant or managing caffeine for other reasons, set a personal daily cap with your clinician.

What If I Need Zero Caffeine?

Ask the barista to use two Peach Tranquility bags and skip the green tea entirely. You’ll keep the peach-mint-lemon vibe and land near zero milligrams. You can also request Mint Majesty for a mint-only herbal option.

Want more bedtime-friendly ideas? Try our drinks that help you sleep list.

Bottom Line

This soothing Starbucks blend isn’t a coffee replacement. It’s a warm, citrus-mint tea with a modest lift that depends on size and steep time. Treat the green tea as the lever that moves caffeine up or down, and you’ll get exactly the cup you want—calming, fragrant, and cozy.