Of cold and flu season in full swing, many people are turning to tea for a little breathing relief.
One drink that people at Starbucks swear by is called the “medicine ball” for its supposed healing properties.
The drink was created in October 2016 as a mixture of tea, steamed lemonade and honeya Starbucks spokesperson told Fox News Digital. The once “secret menu” drink became very popular and was added to the official menu in 2017 as “honey citrus mint tea,” the spokesperson added.
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The drink consists of “green tea with soothing spicy notes of chamomile and hints of spearmint and fruit flavors, served with steamed lemonade and a touch of honey for a tea that comforts from within,” notes the Starbucks website.
However, there is also a lot of sweetness. There are 30 grams of sugar in a “large” size, Starbucks’ website says.
Many people turn to tea when they feel sick. One drink that people at Starbucks swear by is called the “medicine ball” for its supposed healing properties. (iStock)
A registered dietitian shared how she makes her own version of the drink – with her own twist.
“This is one of my favorite recipes to combat winter sniffles and soothe sore throats, thanks to the combination of honey and tea pig greens and peppermint tearegistered dietitian nutritionist Kelsey Kunik told Fox News Digital. Teapigs is a tea brand.
Based in Michigan, Kunik writes for the website “Graciously Nourished.”
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Green tea, she said, “is packed with natural antioxidants to support a healthy immune system” — and the addition of peppermint tea can help soothe sinuses.
Additionally, “honey acts as a natural cough suppressant and throat softener,” she said.
Tea contains antioxidants that help the body prevent colds. (iStock)
Making the drink at home gives you more control over the ingredients in this recipethan you would if you ordered it in a store, Kunik said.
One way to “significantly reduce” the amount of sugar in the drink is to “a light lemonade or squeeze a lemon into hot water instead of lemonade.”
‘Medicine Ball’ inspired tea
Ingredients
6 ounces of lemonade
6 ounces of water
1 tablespoon of honey
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1 green tea with peach (Kunik likes the TeaPigs brand)
1 peppermint tea (optional) (Kunik also likes TeaPigs brand for this)
Brewing this tea at home can help you control how much sugar you consume, noted a dietitian. (Image Dünzl\ullstein via Getty Images)
Directions
Add lemonade to a large mug and microwave for 30 to 60 seconds until just warmed through.
Add 150 ml of hot water (just off the boil) to the mug and steep a tea bag of green tea with peach for 5 minutes.
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After 3 minutes, add a bag of TeaPigs peppermint tea and let it steep for the last 2 minutes.
Stir in a tablespoon of honey (or more if you like it sweeter) and enjoy.
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This recipe is owned by Kelsey Kunik, RDN, and was shared with Fox News Digital.
