With all the time spent with loved ones, the holiday season also brings a host of illnesses. The rise of COVID, the common cold, and the new RSV virus has spotlighted Starbucks’ drink, the Medicine Ball, which has gone viral in the hopes of providing relief.
I returned home from a conference with both knowledge and RSV and thought there was no better time to try the internet sensation. For me, RSV included a throaty cough, runny nose, and body aches. People online have reported the drink managed these symptoms and provided relief.
The honey citrus mint tea, also known as the Medicine Ball or Cold Buster, was created in October 2016 and recently regained popularity on TikTok. The tea consists of lemonade, water, honey, jade citrus mint tea, and peach tranquility tea.
Before even tasting the “cure,” I was skeptical of its claim to relieve symptoms and was also hesitant about the blend of flavors – I did not think it would meld nicely. However, after the first sip, my preconceived notion was disproved as the flavors balanced each other.
The blend of the two teas, lemonade, and honey went well together, but I did feel that the peach tea overpowered some of the other flavors. Although I loved the combination of new flavors, leaving the tea bags in the drink proved a big mistake as the sweetness became almost unbearable after allowing it to steep for too long.
The Medicine Ball reminded me of the Country Peach Passion tea from Celestial Seasoning. This tea also reminds me of apple cider because of its intense sweetness level after leaving the tea bags in.
To my surprise, the warm concoction did give me short-term relief in my throat and cough. Not only did it provide me with some comfort, but it also felt nice due to its warmth. The honey in the tea is known to soothe rough throats, and the warmness of the blend calmed the hitch in my throat. The relief in my throat lasted about 30 minutes after I finished the drink.
While I got some relief from my remaining symptoms, I noticed the blend did not aid my nasal issues.
One of my lasting symptoms of RSV is a stuffy nose. Hoping to find relief from the tea, I was disappointed that only my cough and the irritating feeling in my throat were helped.
With all this in mind, I recommend the viral Medicine Ball drink from Starbucks and agree that it is an excellent option for short-term relief, particularly for sore throats. However, this helpful mix can also be replicated at home for a fraction of the cost.
