Russian Tea Recipe
This Russian Tea Recipe is a spiced tea recipe with made with tang for a cup of hot tea. The “powder mix” makes a great gift for the holidays.
Instant Russian Tea Mix is also called Instant Spiced Tea, and it’s made with warm spice flavors and an orange Tang base. It’s a staple during the holidays in many homes, whether you’re sipping it around the Christmas tree, or enjoying a cup before a night of caroling. You may be filling Mason jars for the perfect homemade gift from your kitchen.
Russian Tea Recipe
The latest lifestyle trend, or the buzz word that everyone talks about this season is “cozy.” So we love this Russian tea recipe (from the 70’s), a recipe many of us remember so well. If you don’t, then give it a try.
Cozy Hot Russian Tea Mix Recipe
Let’s get started with these easy ingredients:
- Sugar
- Instant Tang orange drink
- Sweetened iced tea mix powder
- Unsweetened lemonade mix
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground allspice
- Ground cloves
Why we love this instant Russian tea recipe
A practice for me in the morning is to have my coffee (or tea). You, too?
- This recipe is also nostalgic because my mom made it, and every year for Christmas our friend Jeannie would give us a big container of it.
- Tea is comforting.
- It’s also cozy, and fun to set out for weekend company. To sit around the table and play games and drink tea.
- Kids love it (well, hello, Tang lovers!)
- Fill Mason jars with this mix, and add a festive ribbon tied around the lid, for a fun holiday gift.
How do you make Russian tea recipe without tang?
There are a few recipes that aren’t like the old-fashioned one that we grew up with in the 70’s, that includes Tang.
One recipe is made with strongly steeped tea (5 tea bags to 2 cups of hot water!), sugar, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice, with NO powder mix. You would also use cinnamon sticks or whole cloves (or both) to add flavor.
How to make Hot Russian Tea Mix Recipe
This afternoon, I’m sitting down to get some work done, and I’m sipping on a cup of tea. Here’s how to make the mix:
- Combine the ingredients together in a giant bowl.
- Mix together and store in an airtight container.
- Fill a mug with boiling water, stirring in 2-3 teaspoons of mix.
- If all you can find is presweetened lemonade, then use the amount of dry mix needed for a 2
quart pitcher according to the package instruction, and leave out the sugar.
Equipment needed
Do you own a tea kettle? It makes tea-making soooo easy!
We love our KitchenAid Electric Kettle. Since we don’t have an InstaHot in our home, this small appliance gets used several times a day!
How to make 1 cup of hot russian tea
All you need is 2-3 teaspoons in one cup of boiling water.
You’ll have the best cup of Cozy Hot Russian Tea!
This recipe is an oldie but goodie, from my dear friend Jeannie. I wish we could have a cup of tea together today. But because we can’t, I’m heating up the water, and enjoying a gift that she gives us every year for Christmas!
ENJOY!
More Homemade Holiday Gifts
Russian Tea is a citrus and spice dry tea mix that’s super fun to give as gifts.
Package it up, either 1 or 2 cups increments, in a ziplock bag or small glass vessel (like a Mason jar).
Homemade Coconut Granola Recipe
Downton Abbey Lavender Tea Bread
Delicious treast to give for holiday or hostess gifts!
Get the Recipe:
Hot Russian Tea Mix Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sugar, or less, to taste
- 2 cups instant Tang orange drink
- ½ cup sweetened iced tea mix powder
- 1 3 oz pkg unsweetened lemonade mix
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients well and store in an airtight container.
- To use, fill a mug with boiling water and stir in 2-3 teaspoons of mix, to taste.
- If all you can find is presweetened lemonade, then use the amount of dry mix needed for a 2
- quart pitcher according to the package instruction, and leave out the sugar.
Notes
I had this when I was growing up. It brings back some memories of visits with my mother. it is still so amazing!
Can someone share what type of lemonade… ie is it the kool aid packages or crystal light? I’m not sure
It’s a 3 oz pkg of the dried unsweetened lemonade mix. You can use whatever brand you want.
I’ve been trying to figure out a sugar free version of this for years but with no success. Tang has so much sugar and it’s impossible to find the diet version. I’ve tried substituting sugar free orange drink mix sticks but yuck! Any suggestions? If someone else already asked this, my apologies for the repeat. I grew up with this tea and it always brings back such wonderful memories!
I agree, it’s the classic recipe and we haven’t found anything quite as good as the original (with Tang!)
Can I use lemon ice tea mix? This is one of my favorite holiday drinks. My stepmom made it every holiday.
I think you can. It would be very lemon-y!
Interesting. Just crystal light lemonade and hot water is a caver favorite.
I love this tea!!! But there are always some of the spices that don’t dissolve in the hot water and sink to the bottom of the mug so you can’t drink it all and have to be careful as you get to the bottom. Does anyone know of a good way to strain the tea to so there are no dregs? I tried actually putting the mix into a teabag but it didn’t seem to infuse well in the water.
I’ve never tried strainig it … let me know if you try Lisa!
I pulse it in my blender or food processor until it is the consistency of powdered sugar. Dissolves a lot better!
Question. The ingredients mention .25 oz of lemonade mix but the video seems to show a larger amount. Could you clarify? Thanks!
Hi there, 1 pkg. unsweetened lemonade mix :)
This is an excellent drink when you are coming down with a cold or just not feeling well. It has lots of Vitamin C, and the sugar gives you a bit of energy. I add extra cinnamon. and ginger, plus allspice and ground cloves. I tried using sweetener instead of sugar, but it was too sweet. Now I reduce the sugar to half, and it is perfect. )My family has been making this for at least 55 years!
Thank you. I am making this one, TOMORROW. We love hot drinks in this house… Thank you again… God bless you…..
I had a best friend that used to make this as a give away gift in a small canning jar and some flannel over the lid. It’s what she could afford, and it was lovely receiving this every year. It is a heart warming tradition to get something like this.
I just had to tell you how delicious and satisfying this sounds, Sandy! I can’t wait to make this and snuggle up with a cozy blanket and a good book! xo
I was thrilled to see this recipe again. I used to make it back in the mid ’70’s. My goodness, 50+ years ago. I loved it then and I rushed out, in the snow, to purchase the needed ingredients to make it again. As soon as my husband tasted it he said, ‘I remember this!!’ Thanks for taking us back to our youth. I’m not losing this recipe again (I hope).
I know, I took a sip and it brought me back to my childhood. :) Glad you enjoyed it.
We had this when I was growing up. It brings back some special memories of visits with my grandmother. And, it is still so good!
Howdy wish i was with you this am to sip tea sandy. This was something we kept in tupperware container all winter in Texas to bring out when company came over with cookies or cake…… Tang was a big hit back in the 60–70s….. ha
When I was in Bible College this powdered mix sat in the cafeteria and we spent lots of time up there drinking it and visiting around the tables. Oh the memories.
Today we are snowed in and it will be a slow day. Banana bread is in the oven, another loaf of bread later…just playing catch up and hopefully tearing my girl away from school work long enough to go for a walk
I loved having this tea as a kid with my Grandma’s molasses cookies!