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!
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.
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
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!
- 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.
- 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.
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
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!
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
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