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    Home » Recipes » Holiday

    Russian Tea Recipe

    Author: Peter Kolesnichenko · Published: Oct 24, 2022

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    This Russian Tea Recipe is a citrus spiced tea popular in America, especially during the holidays. Usually made from Iced Tea and Tang, you'll love this made from scratch, steeped tea recipe without artificial flavors!

    Russian Tea made from scratch, using real tea bags, oranges, lemons and spices. This delicious Orange spiced Russian tea recipe is easy to make and a winter treat - Spiced Russian Tea Recipe
    sliced lemons oranges
    citrus spice steeping tea

    Is Russian Tea Really Russian?

    Not at all. Russians love drinking tea, and are amongst the world largest consumers of black tea, which is where this recipe gets its inspiration. Russians drink their black tea with a slice of lemon, which is where the citrus flavors originate in this tea. Sometimes this is called Friendship Tea, but it is an American invention.

    Russian Tea Origins

    This popular winter tea recipe isn't usually sold in stores or restaurants, but is enjoyed at home. American church cookbooks in the 1960's popularized the recipe. Specifically when powdered Tang Orange Drink and Instant Lipton Iced Tea were introduced as the base of this spiced tea mixture. It's a vintage Southern favorite.

    boiling citrus in pot
    tea bags in citrus

    Russian Tea with Tang

    Making powdered spiced tea is often given as a homemade gift in small mason jars. A convenient tea mixture that's made in seconds by combining all the dry ingredients. Just place 2 heaping teaspoons of tea mix into a cup of hot water and enjoy! Here's all you need to make the powdered version of this recipe.

    • 2 cups - Instant Lemon Iced Tea Mix
    • 2 cups - Tang Drink Powder
    • 1 cup - Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon - Ground Cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon - Ground Cloves

    Russian Tea Ingredients

    Here's what you need to make real Russian Tea made from scratch. Easy everyday ingredients that you already have in your pantry.

    • Black Tea bags
    • Orange Slices
    • Lemon Slices
    • Cinnamon Sticks
    • Whole Cloves
    • Ground Nutmeg
    • Sugar to taste
    • Water
    straining tea bag
    strained Russian tea

    How to Make Russian Tea

    Russian Tea always tastes best when made from scratch, without any artificial flavors. An easy mix of teabags, citrus and spices. All you need is 3 oranges and 2 lemons to make a fantastic citrus flavored tea beverage. Steep, strain, sweeten and serve, it's that easy!

    1. In a pot, combine the water, oranges, lemons, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and sugar and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes and remove from heat.
    2. Add the tea bags into the mixture and allow to steep covered for about 5 minutes. Remove the fruit, spices and tea bags (without squeezing out the bitter tannins out of the bag).
    3. Taste and adjust sugar to taste. Serve immediately, reheat if necessary.

    Recipe Tips

    • Save Time - make ahead of time and re-heat
    • Make it Cold - enjoy in the summer as a cold Citrus Iced Tea
    • Cheesecloth - strain through a cheesecloth to remove pulp from the tea mixture
    • Black Tea - Only use regular Black Tea, avoid Earl Grey or flavored Teas
    • Honey - try honey instead of sugar
    • Real Oranges - don't use orange juice when making Russian Tea, just the orange slices. Too much orange juice will overpower the recipe, nobody likes drinking hot orange juice
    russian tea naturally steeped in a pot

    Holiday Drinks You'll Love

    • Hot Apple Cider
    • Zavarka - Traditional Russian Tea
    • German Mulled Wine
    • Christmas Punch with Cranberries
    • Homemade Non-Alcoholic Eggnog

    An easy winter favorite the whole family will enjoy. Orange spiced tea warms you up from the inside out, and makes the house smell amazing. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

    Russian Tea made from scratch, using real tea bags, oranges, lemons and spices. This delicious Orange spiced Russian tea recipe is easy to make and a winter treat - Spiced Russian Tea Recipe

    Russian Tea Recipe (Video)

    Russian Tea made from scratch, using real tea bags, oranges, lemons and spices. This delicious Orange spiced Russian tea recipe is easy to make and a winter treat - Citrus Russian Tea Recipe
    4.83 from 57 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes
    Course: beverages, Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Russia tea recipe, Russian Tea, spiced tea
    Servings: 6 people

    Ingredients

    • 8 cups water
    • 4 black tea bags
    • 3 oranges sliced
    • 2 lemons sliced
    • 2 cinnamon sticks
    • 8 whole cloves
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ cup sugar to taste

    Instructions

    • In a pot, combine the water, oranges, lemons, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and sugar and bring to a boil. Boil for about 5 minutes and remove from heat.
    • Add the tea bags into the mixture and allow to steep covered for about 5 minutes. Remove the fruit, spices and tea bags (without squeezing out the bitter tannins out of the bag).
    • Taste and adjust sugar to taste. Serve immediately, reheat if necessary.

    Video

    Tried this recipe?Mention @petersfoodadventures or tag #petersfoodadventures!

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com

    Russian Tea
    Russian Tea made from scratch, using real tea bags, oranges, lemons and spices. This delicious Orange spiced Russian tea recipe is easy to make and a winter treat - Spiced Russian Tea Recipe
    Russian Tea made from scratch, using real tea bags, oranges, lemons and spices. This delicious Orange spiced Russian tea recipe is easy to make and a winter treat - Spiced Russian Tea Recipe

    More Holiday

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      Easy Turkey Turnovers
    • Pryaniki Honey Cookies are traditional Russian cookies made with sour cream, butter, flour and lots of honey. Just like my babushka made - (Домашние пряники медовые)
      Pryaniki - Honey Cookies
    • Love this Stove Top Stuffing recipe! So easy to make and delicious too! Larger recipe made with a loaf of sliced bread, celery, chicken stock and fresh sage. Trust me, your family will want seconds! Easy Stove Top Stuffing Recipe
      Stovetop Stuffing
    • This Christmas Punch recipe with whole Cranberries is a tasty drink that's super easy to make, perfect for holiday parties. A non alcoholic cranberry party punch, the whole family can enjoy.
      Non Alcoholic Christmas Punch

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    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to create tasty meals for your family!

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