Here's the Right Way to Order the Starbucks "Medicine Ball"

This time of year, a hot cup of coffee or tea isn't just cozy — it can feel like a cure. Nothing quite exemplifies that sentiment like the Medicine Ball at Starbucks, a drink popularized for its supposed restorative powers. The fact that it tastes sweet, tart and deliciously floral doesn't hurt. Whether or not it lives up to its medicinal reputation is up for you to decide, but it certainly goes down easy.

The combination of tea, steamed lemonade and honey began as a customer and employee creation in late 2016. Fans flocked to social media to share the off-menu order, which they dubbed "Medicine Ball" or "Cold Buster," and many even tried to recreate it at home.

"The beverage became so popular that it joined the Starbucks permanent menu in 2017," says a spokesperson for the company. However, the name Medicine Ball stayed on social media and among Starbucks super fans. On official menus, it's called Honey Citrus Mint Tea.

TikTok users swear by the honey-lemon tea for making them feel better when they have a cough, congestion, sore throat or other cold-like symptoms. There is some science to back this up: "Adequate fluids, hot or cold, are important for aiding recovery, thinning out mucus, keeping throats moist and more," says Good Housekeeping Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N. "Honey also contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and compounds that act as antioxidants. It has antibacterial and antimicrobial activity as well, and a little goes a long way," she adds.

Here is what you'll find in the citrusy elixir:

• Chamomile mint blossom tea
• Steamed lemonade
• Hot water
• Honey

Customize the drink with more or less tea (a grande comes with two tea bags), extra honey or sub in light lemonade, to name a few options. Chamomile mint blossom is a type of green tea, so it contains some caffeine. According to the company's website, a 16-ounce grande contains 16-25 mg of caffeine, which isn't much compared to the 300+ mg you'll find in the same size coffee.

For a lower-sugar option, Sassos suggests ordering the tea with honey and omitting the lemonade, though a splash is fine in moderation.

Medicine Ball is an eight-year-old name at this point, so don't get offended if the friendly faces at your local Starbucks have no idea what you're talking about. Go ahead and order the Honey Citrus Mint Tea to avoid confusion.

While some staffers may understand what you mean if you ask for a Medicine Ball — the barista at my New York City Starbucks knew the term — using its menu-given name is your best bet.

"Customers should ask for the Honey Citrus Mint Tea when ordering, which is also the name of the beverage in the Starbucks app," says the spokesperson I spoke with.

Although I tried the drink on a sunny, autumn day where I felt perfectly healthy, I could see how its herbal notes would be soothing, its minty taste invigorating.

Based on some Internet sleuthing, it looks like the tea used to contain a mix of Jade Citrus Mint Tea and Peach Tranquility Tea, whereas now it only contains one type, Chamomile Mint Blossom. While there is no longer a stone fruit-like taste, you'll get a bright, herbaceous flavor from lemon verbena, freshness from spearmint and a floral taste from the chamomile. It's balanced with a decent amount of sweetness from honey and lemonade.

Would I order it again? Absolutely, but I'll wait for a day when I feel under the weather. The drink won't cure your cold, Sassos explains, but it may help alleviate some symptoms. It can't hurt to try.