NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & TΕ«rangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • ManawatΕ« - Whanganui
    • All ManawatΕ« - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • ManawatΕ«
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Lifestyle

Can Starbucks miracle 'cold buster' drink cure your cold?

Daily Mail
29 Mar, 2017 10:04 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber? Β Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access contentβ€”explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
β€Œ
Save

    Share this article

The Starbucks "Medicine Ball" is purportedly curing colds all over the world. Photo / Getty Images

The Starbucks "Medicine Ball" is purportedly curing colds all over the world. Photo / Getty Images

Much has been made of Starbucks' "secret menu" items over the years, but rarely has one of the lesser-known items made the transition to the permanent menu.

According to the Daily Mail the latest drink to make its full Starbucks menu debut isn't just simply another tasty treat with a long name, it's actually purported by fans to be a "Cold Buster".

View this post on Instagram

1/2 steamed lemonade + 1/2 hot water + #JadeCitrusMint green tea + #PeachTranquility herbal tea + honey. Combine. Sip. πŸ‹πŸ’šπŸ˜Œ

A post shared by Starbucks Coffee β˜• (@starbucks) on Jan 12, 2017 at 1:19pm PST

The Medicine Ball has apparently been growing in popularity for some time, with users on Instagram claiming it to be the perfect drink for soothing a sore throat and comforting a cold-sufferer.

A Starbucks spokesperson tells Daily Mail Online that the drink is an "official beverage" that came about through "the creativity of our customers and partners."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"While there are several ways to make this drink, our recommended recipe is: in a hot cup, add a bag of Teavana Jade Citrus Mint Tea and a bag of Teavana Peach Tranquility Tea," adds the spokesperson.

"Add half hot water and half steamed lemonade. Add a packet of honey and an optional pump of peppermint."

View this post on Instagram

Starbucks just promoted "The Medicine Ball" from "secret menu" to official menu!!! πŸ™ŒπŸΌ And a grateful tea-drinking community rejoices! ___ The way I make at home: Half hot lemonade, half hot water, peach tranquility tea, jade citrus mint tea, 2 tbsp honey. Miracle cold cure every time. ___ #starbucks #starbuckssecretmenu #starbucksmedicineball #medicineball #starbuckscoldbuster #teavana #tea #honeycures #honey #teavana #coldcure #fluseason #hubertslemonade #lovehubertslemonade #wholefoods #janegrubbdesigns #citrusdefender

A post shared by Jane Grubb | βš“οΈ (@heyjanegrubb) on Mar 27, 2017 at 8:25am PDT

The Daily Mail Online decided to give the popular tipple a whirl by enlisting resident cold-suffering reporter Clemence Michallon to take a sip or seven.

"First of all, can I say how lucky I am to have woken up with a sore throat and a cold just the day Starbucks added this drink to their menu?" she says.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

While she admits that she never thought of adding lemonade to tea, her verdict on the Medicine Ball is: "Definitely a comfort drink, the kind you'd like to sip under a blanket with a good book."

Clemence adds: "It did appear to relieve my achy throat, probably in part due to the fact that it's hot tea mixed with lemon and honey. It smells amazing, too, so if your nose isn't completely blocked, go ahead and breathe in that nice steam."

"I'd order it again, and not just when I'm sick, but also when I'm looking for a bit of comfort in a portable cup."

View this post on Instagram

Legend has it that the Medicine Ball can help ease the pain when feeling under the weather or having a sore throat. Order one venti hot tea with: β€’ 1 bag of Mint Majesty β€’ 1 bag of Peach Tranquility β€’ 2 bags of honey β€’ half water half steamed lemonade. Regram: @starbucksbri100 #StarbucksMedicineBall #ColdBuster #SickTea #BaristaCreations

A post shared by Hansel Doan (@hansel_doan) on Feb 18, 2017 at 6:07pm PST

According to Fortune, the company decided to make the move with the drink after a store manager wrote in the internal messaging system about how more than 20 customers would order the drink in one day.

Shortly after that, another 40 managers responded saying that the drink was also popular at their locations.

Starbucks president and COO Kevin Johnson explained at the company's annual shareholder meeting that normally it would take months to add a new drink to the permanent menu, but thanks to incredible customer demand, they were able to do so in just one day.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Why this simple pecan pie is perfect for special occasions

15 Jun 02:00 AM
Premium
Lifestyle

Advice: My best friend ghosted me, and I’m devastated. Help!

15 Jun 12:00 AM
Royals

How Prince Louis charmed the crowds at Trooping the Colour

14 Jun 09:38 PM

BV or thrush? Know the difference

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Why this simple pecan pie is perfect for special occasions

Why this simple pecan pie is perfect for special occasions

15 Jun 02:00 AM

This old-fashioned pie is a classic for a reason.

Premium
Advice: My best friend ghosted me, and I’m devastated. Help!

Advice: My best friend ghosted me, and I’m devastated. Help!

15 Jun 12:00 AM
How Prince Louis charmed the crowds at Trooping the Colour

How Prince Louis charmed the crowds at Trooping the Colour

14 Jun 09:38 PM
Premium
Auckland ICU doctor's book exposes NZ health system crisis from the inside

Auckland ICU doctor's book exposes NZ health system crisis from the inside

14 Jun 08:00 PM
It was just a stopover – 18 months later, they call it home
sponsored

It was just a stopover – 18 months later, they call it home

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • Β© Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP