Best Tea at Starbucks: Top Teas, Flavors & Drinks Guide (2026)

Many people visit Starbucks for a Vanilla Latte or Caramel Macchiato. Many also enjoy the hidden gems on the menu. The best tea at Starbucks comes from fresh tea drinks made with care. These tea beverages offer many tasty choices.

Every tea has a special taste for different taste buds and fits many kinds of lifestyle choices. Simple customization makes it easy to customize each cup with smart tricks and an insider secret.

Discover new flavors. Find crafted drinks you will love. Share great drinks with others. Enjoy every sip. Find your new favorite drink. It feels like a visit to a special tea house.

What is the Best Tea at Starbucks?

The best tea at Starbucks is the Medicine Ball for many people. This Starbucks tea is a warm hot tea with a smooth blend of citrus, mint, and honey. It first became famous on the secret menu and is now a popular drink on the menu.

This cozy drink fits many tastes, health goals, and moods. The Honey Citrus Mint Tea is a favorite. It is one of the best and most enjoyable drinks at Starbucks.

Top 5 Starbucks Tea Picks at a Glance

My Criteria for “Best” Starbucks Teas

The best tea at Starbucks should have great taste and meet clear criteria. Every Starbucks tea should be exceptional, consistently good, and well-executed. Many good teas at Starbucks and other drinks were tested at Starbucks in Seattle, Miami, and different locations.

The list includes drinks that taste great in a busy downtown store and a quiet suburban location. Strong customization and customization potential also matter because customizable drinks are like blank canvases.

Small tweaks can make each cup extraordinary. Good value and bang for your buck are important too, especially when you order the drink properly. These multiple marks help pick the best tea every time.

Top Starbucks Tea to Try (Ranked)

A visit to Starbucks shows how temperature can change every cup of tea. A chai latte has a different flavor and taste when it is hot or iced.

Hot tea feels cozy, brings comfort, and is perfect for comfort-seeking moments. Iced tea gives refreshing energy and bright refreshing energy on warm days. Hot and iced tea drinks taste different. Each drink has its own spices, sweetness, and caffeine level.

This guide ranks the best Starbucks tea drinks. It covers hot tea, iced tea, and other tea options. Use it to pick the right drink from the best Starbucks teas menu and enjoy every sip. Every ranking is ranked to make choosing the right drink simple.

Best Starbucks Hot Tea Drinks

1. Medicine Ball (Honey Citrus Mint Tea)

The Medicine Ball is a favorite good teas at Starbucks for a warm cup in the cold season. Its nickname came from customers who loved its healing properties. The mix of Jade Citrus Mint and Peach Tranquility tea gives a fresh and smooth flavor.

Honey adds natural sweetness and a rich, smooth taste. Steamed lemonade adds vitamin C and a bright citrus flavor. Hot water, mint, peach, and lemonade make this herbal tea warm, fresh, and full of flavor.

This wellness drink feels warm, cozy, sweet, and comforting. It is also a tasty honey tea, citrus tea, mint tea, peach tea, and seasonal drink.

This brewed tea drink helps support wellness, immune health, and hydration. It can soothe a scratchy throat and help clear a blocked nose. Many people enjoy it during January and the cold season.

Taste profile: Fresh citrus and cool mint blend with sweet honey. Every sip feels warm, smooth, and comforting.

Best for: Great for a sore throat, cold care, or a warm Starbucks tea. Enjoy a cozy drink with light caffeine.

Price: $3.65–$5.45, based on the cup size and store location.

Customization tips: Add extra honey for more sweetness. Ask for light water for a richer tea flavor. Choose half the lemonade for a smoother, balanced taste.

2. London Fog Tea Latte

The London Fog Tea Latte is one of the best tea at Starbucks choices. A London Fog blends Earl Grey, milk, and rich brewed tea into a smooth tea latte.

This drink has a rich tea flavor that is aromatic, with soft bergamot and bright bergamot notes that bring fresh citrus notes. The right steeping time keeps the balance just right, so the hot tea stays perfect and never bitter.

Many baristas can add an extra tea bag or use a longer steep time for more tea strength. Each slow steep makes the creamy tea taste more sophisticated, nuanced, and truly divine. Even many coffee drinkers enjoy this warm cup after the first sip.

Taste profile: Enjoy floral bergamot, creamy vanilla, and a light touch of lavender. This tea latte tastes smooth, creamy, and has a soft floral finish.

Best for: Great for an afternoon pick-me-up. Enjoy it with pastries, cookies, or light desserts. It also makes a great café-style drink.

Price: $4.25–$5.75 (Prices vary by size and location.)

Customization tips: Choose oat milk for a creamier drink. Add 1 pump of lavender syrup for more floral flavor. Add ristretto Blonde Espresso shots to make a smooth dirty tea latte with a rich coffee taste.

3. Chai Tea Latte

Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is a great chai tea latte for every spice lover. This hot drink has a rich tea concentrate with cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and tasty spices.

The concentrate gives a bold punch of flavor in every cup. It tastes sweet, creamy, warm, and aromatic with steamed milk and milk. Good chai preparation makes a big difference.

Some baristas shake the container before shaking, and this distributes the spices well. The beverage never tastes flat or watery.

Many stores and coffee shops serve this brewed tea, and it is one of the best drinks to enjoy during autumn.

Taste profile: Bold chai spices blend with creamy sweetness. Enjoy warm cinnamon, clove, and cardamom. A light peppery finish completes each sip.

Best for: Great for cold mornings, a dessert drink, a cozy afternoon, or comfort in a cup.

Price: $4.45–$5.95. Prices vary by location and drink size.

Customization tips: Ask for “no water” for a rich chai flavor. Add a shot of espresso to make a Dirty Chai. Pick coconut milk for a smooth, tropical taste.

4. Matcha Green Tea Latte

A Matcha Green Tea Latte at Starbucks is a tasty tea drink. The key is knowing how to order it. The matcha is pre-sweetened, so some tea purists may not like it.

This green tea latte is a popular drink from a mainstream coffee shop. Many people make the biggest mistake by not specifying how they want it mixed.

A properly made matcha latte has no clumps. A barista can blend it extra well for a smooth, creamy texture. The smooth texture makes every sip better.

The creamy latte feels rich, and the matcha game at Starbucks is better than many expect. This beverage is a great choice for tea lovers.

Taste Profile: Fresh and grassy with a light sweet taste. It has a rich umami flavor and a smooth, creamy finish.

Best For: Great for steady energy, an antioxidant-rich drink, or a beautiful green matcha latte.

Price: $4.45–$5.95

Customization Tips: Choose coconut milk for a creamy taste. Skip the classic syrup for a light, fresh flavor. Add extra matcha scoops for a stronger matcha taste and a richer flavor.

5. Green Tea Latte

The Green Tea Latte at Starbucks is a café favorite on the tea menu. This tea latte uses a green tea blend with a mellow flavor. It is creamy, smooth, balanced, and has a light flavor.

Made with brewed tea and steamed milk, this tea beverage is a great warm drink or hot tea. It has less grassy taste and softer grassy notes than matcha, matcha latte, and matcha tea.

The different blend makes it feel approachable, like a younger sibling. The earthy taste is comforting, making this cafe drink a great choice for anyone who loves green tea.

Taste profile: Light green tea taste with natural sweetness. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a fresh finish.

Best for: Great for green tea beginners. Enjoy it for an afternoon energy boost. It is also a good choice if you want a light green tea drink.

Price: $4.25–$5.75

Customization tips: Add vanilla syrup for more sweetness. Order it iced for a cool drink. Mix half green tea and half black tea for a smooth, balanced flavor.

6. Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte

Royal English Breakfast Tea Latte is a classic tea latte from Starbucks. The Royal English Breakfast blend is a black tea blend with a robust, malty, full-bodied, and strong taste. It can stand up to milk, making the milk smooth, creamy, and rich.

This breakfast tea has a bold flavor and is a great hot drink for a cozy warm beverage. The brewed tea tastes straightforward and comforting, while the British Empire is often linked with the long history of tea.

Taste Profile: Bold black tea with a rich, malty flavor. It has a smooth, creamy finish. Add sweetness if you like.

Best For: Great for morning energy, new tea latte drinkers, and anyone who loves a strong black tea latte.

Price: $4.25–$5.75

Customization Tips: Add vanilla syrup and cinnamon for a snickerdoodle flavor. Use half-and-half for a rich, creamy texture.

7. Jade Citrus Mint Tea

At Starbucks, Jade Citrus Mint Tea is a favorite in the best tea at Starbucks list. This bright green tea blend is made with green tea leaves, spearmint, and lemongrass. The tea blend has a fresh garden taste with mint, citrus, and soft herbal notes.

It is smooth, light, aromatic, flavorful, refreshing, and soothing. Enjoy this tea as hot tea or iced tea. Both hot and iced styles make a refreshing drink and a cooling beverage.

Jade Citrus Mint Tea is also used in the Medicine Ball, also called Honey Citrus Mint Tea. Every cup of this brewed tea makes a fresh and tasty tea drink.

Taste Profile: Bright, minty, and citrusy. It has a clean and fresh finish.

Best For: Great for easy digestion. It also cleans your palate. A good choice for people who enjoy caffeine-free herbal tea.

Price: $2.45–$3.25 (Price depends on the size and store.)

Customization Tips: Add honey for a sweet taste. Mix it with Peach Tranquility to make a DIY Medicine Ball. Serve it iced with a splash of lemonade for a fresh citrus flavor.

Best Starbucks Iced Tea Drinks

1. Iced Green Tea Lemonade

Iced Green Tea Lemonade is a top drink at Starbucks for hot summer days. This cool cup is great for warm August afternoons. The perfect balance of refreshing tea and tangy lemonade gives every sip a fresh taste.

The iced green tea is freshly brewed and brewed fresh daily, so it stays fresh daily. The quality of both components makes this special. The tea and lemonade are combined into a smooth combination that feels like magic.

The flavor is sweet but not overly sweet, unlike many competitors. For many years, this has been a go-to drink because it is cool, bright, and refreshing.

Taste profile: Crisp green tea and tart lemonade create a fresh, bright taste. Add sweetener for your perfect sweetness.

Best for: Hot summer days, a quick energy boost, fast hydration, or a low-calorie drink.

Price: $3.45–$4.95 (prices vary by location).

Customization tips: Choose light lemonade for more green tea flavor. Add peach juice for a fruity taste. Skip the classic sweetener for a light, fresh drink.

2. Iced Chai Tea Latte

The Iced Chai Tea Latte is a cool drink with a smooth chai latte taste. This iced version feels fresh and different from its hot counterpart.

The spices taste brighter, the sweetness stays balanced, and the flavor is refreshing. This popular tea is a great choice for any chai fan.

Light ice helps keep the taste rich because standard ice can dilute the latte. Every iced sip brings a better refreshing experience, especially for a slow sipper who likes to enjoy every sip.

Taste Profile: Sweet and spicy. It has a cool finish. The drink is smooth and creamy.

Best For: Great for warm days. Enjoy it as a sweet treat or an afternoon drink.

Price: $4.45–$5.95

Customization Tips: Choose oat milk for a creamy taste. Add vanilla syrup for more sweetness. Mix it with cold brew coffee for more caffeine and a bold coffee flavor.

3. Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte

The Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte is one of the top picks for best tea at Starbucks. This iced matcha drink is a creamy, refreshing cold drink with a vibrant green color. It is Instagram famous because it looks gorgeous and tastes delicious.

Good preparation starts with proper mixing and the right proper technique. Careful whisking helps create a well-mixed matcha latte with a smooth texture and even consistency.

This latte blends matcha, green tea, and tea into one tasty beverage. Poor mixing can leave it separated or clumpy, so every sip should be smooth and full of flavor.

Taste Profile: Earthy, creamy, and fresh. It has a natural sweet taste and a smooth finish.

Best For: Great for Instagram photos, a coffee-free energy boost, or a cool drink on hot days.

Price: $4.45–$5.95.

Customization Tips: Ask for it shaken well. Add coconut milk for a tropical taste. Add vanilla syrup for a sweeter flavor.

4. Medicine Ball Iced Version

The Medicine Ball also comes in an iced version at Starbucks. The Iced Medicine Ball is not an official menu item, but it is still possible to order.

A barista or other baristas can often accommodate a custom order and make a customized drink when you explain what you want. This iced tea drink is cool, refreshing, and a tasty tea drink for hot days.

Taste Profile: Fresh mint and citrus with sweet honey and a light herbal tea taste.

Best For: A cool summer drink, cold relief, a refreshing iced tea, or fans of the Starbucks Medicine Ball.

Price: $3.65–$5.45. Prices vary by location.

Customization Tips: Order an Iced Jade Citrus Mint Tea and Peach Tranquility Tea with cold lemonade. Ask for light ice. Add extra honey packets for more sweetness.

5. Iced Black Tea Lemonade

Iced Black Tea Lemonade from Starbucks is a classic and the OG of tea lemonades. It helped start America’s obsession with this cool tea drink.

This cold beverage blends brewed tea, black tea, lemonade, and rich lemon flavor into one tasty drink.

The taste is balanced, sweet, and a little tart. Every sip feels refreshing, with bright citrus notes that make it a great choice on a warm day.

Taste Profile: Bold black tea and fresh lemonade make a crisp, refreshing drink. It has a smooth tea taste and a clean finish.

Best For: Great for tea lovers, Arnold Palmer fans, and anyone who enjoys a cool, refreshing drink.

Price: $3.45–$4.95

Customization Tips: Add peach juice or guava juice for a fruity flavor. Choose half-sweetened for a lighter taste. Add fresh mint for an extra-fresh finish.

6. Iced White Tea Lemonade

Iced White Tea Lemonade was a hidden gem when it was available at Starbucks. This iced drink mixed white tea with lemonade for a light, delicate, and refreshing taste.

It is now discontinued, but many people still miss it. The flavor stayed smooth because green tea can taste grassy, while black tea can feel too strong. The mix had the perfect balance for a crisp and easy-to-drink tea.

Taste Profile: Light floral tea with fresh lemonade and a bright citrus taste.

Best For: People who want a light, refreshing drink with a gentle tea flavor.

Price: Around $3.45–$4.95.

Customization Tips: Choose light lemonade for a smooth taste. Add berry pieces for more fruit flavor. Mix with green tea for a fresh, rich taste.

7. Paradise Drink Refresher

The Paradise Drink Refresher is a great pick at Starbucks for anyone who wants a light tea drink. The Paradise Drink has a sweet tropical taste and feels very refreshing.

This beverage uses tea-based ingredients, so it fits well in the tea category. It is one of the newer additions to the menu and bridges the gap between tea and refresher choices.

Every sip brings fresh refreshment, and the simple ingredients create a smooth tea beverage that many people enjoy. This category favorite is a tasty refresher for fans of a flavorful tea drink.

Taste Profile: Sweet tropical flavor with creamy coconut and a light tea taste. It has a fresh finish.

Best For: People who love tropical Starbucks drinks, colorful drinks, and a caffeine boost without coffee.

Price: $4.45–$5.95. The price changes by size and location.

Customization Tips: Add extra coconut milk for a creamier drink. Ask for light ice for more flavor. Blend it for a smooth, smoothie-style drink.

If you enjoy Starbucks espresso drinks, explore our Starbucks Brown Sugar Oatmilk Cortado guide to learn how to make this creamy and flavorful coffee at home.

Secret Menu Tea Drinks Worth Trying

Many Secret Menu Tea Drinks at Starbucks come from fun off-menu creations instead of official drinks. Explain how to make the custom drink to the barista.

The extra effort is worth trying because each customized tea can become a unique tea or specialty tea. A simple menu hack from the Starbucks secret menu helps create a tasty handcrafted drink.

Start with your favorite tea drink. Add fun tea flavors. Follow a simple tea recipe. Make your custom drink your own with easy changes.

Every tea drink becomes a fresh Starbucks secret menu drink. It makes every sip feel fun and special. You can enjoy your best tea in Starbucks like a pro.

1. Strawberry Green Tea

Strawberry Green Tea is a great pick for a hot summer day. Iced green tea comes with strawberry inclusions, a splash of strawberry puree, and sweet strawberries.

This tea is healthy and full of antioxidants. It is an iced, fruity, refreshing beverage and a cool cold drink from Starbucks.

A little customization lets you add more fruit inclusions or extra puree for a stronger strawberry flavor. This green tea beverage is a tasty fruit tea, a light tea drink, an antioxidant-rich choice, and a perfect refreshing drink for warm days.

2. Honey Almondmilk Flat White Tea

Honey Almondmilk Flat White Tea is a great pick for anyone who wants a hot tea drink with a soft taste. This Earl Grey tea latte uses almond milk as a dairy alternative, honey instead of vanilla, and a layer of signature flat white microfoam like a flat white.

The Earl Grey and Earl Grey tea bring light floral, citrus, and bergamot notes. The microfoam makes the tea latte extra creamy and smooth.

This handcrafted beverage feels sophisticated, naturally sweetened, and gently sweetened. From my experience, this Starbucks-style customization turns simple tea, latte, and milk into a rich and tasty drink.

3. Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Tea

Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew Tea is a smooth best tea in Starbucks for warm days. A cold brew tea made with your favorite tea bag creates a fresh cold brewed tea with a rich vanilla flavor.

The vanilla sweet cream and sweet cream give this tea drink a soft smooth texture that feels indulgent but stays lightly sweet, not too sweet.

This cold beverage is also a tasty iced tea and fresh brewed tea. A custom tea with easy tea customization lets every tea order match your taste. This creamy tea is a cool refreshing drink and a perfect cold drink for any time of day.

4. Lavender Earl Grey

A London Fog with lavender syrup instead of vanilla is a great Starbucks choice. This tea latte blends Earl Grey tea, black tea, bergamot, steamed milk, and a soft lavender flavor.

The floral tea tastes aromatic, fragrant, creamy, smooth, sweet, and comforting. This tea drink, hot tea, and café drink stands out on the menu.

Some Starbucks locations offer it with year-round availability, while others have it only during seasonal availability with a seasonal syrup or limited-time syrup.

A custom order with customization and syrup substitution can turn it into a lavender latte style beverage.

The tea blend, flavor combination, signature drink, and a little magic make Lavender Earl Grey easy to enjoy.

5. Dirty Chai

Dirty Chai is a classic secret menu drink. It mixes a chai latte with espresso or espresso shots. The coffee adds more depth and makes the spices taste more spicy.

Start with one shot because the caffeine is strong. Add another shot for a bigger caffeine punch if you want a bolder taste.

This secret menu item is a great best tea in Starbucks choice with the rich flavor of a tea latte.

Healthiest Starbucks Tea Options

Choose plain Starbucks tea for easy health goals. These teas give you great flavor and low calories. Jade Citrus Mint Tea, Emperor’s Cloud Green Tea, and Royal English Breakfast Tea have less than 5 calories in each cup.

They are some of the healthiest Starbucks tea options. You can also enjoy a low-calorie Starbucks tea with these choices. For a creamy drink, order a tea latte with almond milk or oat milk.

This keeps the drink light and smooth. Ask for half pumps of syrup, less syrup, or substitute honey with honey for light sweetness. You can also request sugar-free options when available.

The Starbucks Calorie Calculator or another calorie calculator makes it easy to track your drinking. These easy changes help you make smart choices.

Enjoy healthy tea, green tea, breakfast tea, citrus mint tea, and English breakfast tea with less calories. Pick a low-calorie tea and enjoy every sip.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s the strongest tea at Starbucks?

Answer: The strongest tea at Starbucks tea is often Matcha lattes because they have more caffeine than many other tea lattes. For even more flavor and energy, ask for extra matcha scoops.

Black tea-based drinks and other black tea drinks are also great if you want a bold taste. Adding extra tea bags can increase the tea strength of your tea latte or other tea drinks.

Both matcha and black tea are excellent choices when looking for a high caffeine tea or a tasty caffeinated tea.

2. Can I order any tea iced?

Answer: Yes, you can order almost any iced tea at Starbucks. Technically, not all tea choices have official iced versions or official versions, but baristas can brew a tea bag or tea bags and brew over ice with fresh ice.

Black tea, green tea, and herbal tea give the best results. For a fresh and smooth drink, choose black, green, or herbal options. They taste great when served iced.

3. How do I order a less sweet tea latte?

Answer: For a less sweet tea latte, order it with fewer pumps of syrup or choose no syrup. You can request sugar-free syrups, honey, or your own sweetener for better taste.

Drinks made with tea and milk offer a simple tea and milk option. A Starbucks tea latte or tea latte can be changed with a flavor adjustment, reduced sweetness, and different syrup pumps.

Try unsweetened tea, natural sweetener, honey sweetener, milk-based tea, brewed tea, or other tea drinks with sugar-free options. You can customize your drink with easy customization choices.

4. What Happened to Teavana Teas at Starbucks?

Answer: The Starbucks tea menu still carries the taste of Teavana. Starbucks removed the Teavana brand, but many tea blends stayed under the Starbucks label with unchanged recipes and original blends.

The tea category offers premium tea, tea beverages, and tea drinks with many tea options. The Teavana acquisition helped grow tea products, botanical blends, and handcrafted beverages while creating a better tea experience for customers.