Making little jars of Russian Tea for the special people in our lives, is one of the best things about the holidays! This recipe requires only 6 ingredients, a little hand to stir, and a jar!

Tea Traditions

We love having tangy, Russian Tea (aka Southern Spiced Tea) on hand during the holiday season and throughout the winter. We find it is best served on a cold winter day before sending our kids off into the Minnesota weather for school. My grandma would make this recipe, keep it in a glass jar on her counter and stir us up a cup when we would come visit! It is one of the food/ smell sensory memories that I will forever have of my grandma!

As far as the history of Russian Tea goes, it is said to have been a popular choice among upper class Russian citizens in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It now finds its popularity as a staple in the American South and it will certainly be a favorite in your household too! We especially love this recipe because our kids love making and consuming it just as much! We often look for a hot beverage that can serve as a coffee alternative the whole family can enjoy. This one, along with our Vanilla Chai Tea Latte, is a favorite!

Your new Favorite Hot Drink – and Homemade Gift!

This batch makes up about 1 quart of Instant Russian Tea Mix. We will often double and triple the batch and fill pint-sized jars. This mix makes for the perfect little gift that even the smallest babes can help with. Jazz your gift jar by adding a little label, string and send them with the kids to school for the teachers and bus driver. You could even get extra crafty and portion out tablespoons of the mix into tea bags.

ADULTS ONLY: To spice up your cup of tea you could add a bit of whisky, cinnamon schnapps or any other of your favorite liquors. 😉 Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the holidays!

(This post may contain affiliate links which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

What is Russian Tea made of?

Tang: As in the name, “Tang” is a tangy drink mix made up of mostly citric acid and sugar. It is mainly used as an orange drink mix. Some people have expressed that they find Tang to be a hard ingredient to find – I have found it anywhere from the grocery store to our dollar general so I promise, it’s out there.

Instant Lemonade Mix and Instant Ice Tea (unsweetened): The combination of lemonade and instant tea bring the refreshing taste of Arnold Palmer into your hot tea.

Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, and Sugar: Sugar, Spice, and Everything nice! The warm spice flavors are really what seal the deal on making this warm drink a favorite on chilly days.

How to make Russian Tea

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Sugar
• 2 cups Tang
• 1 cup Instant Lemonade Mix
• 1/2 cup Instant Ice Tea (unsweetened)
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves

Steps

1. Mix all ingredients together – stir until all of the ingredients are evenly blended
2. Secondly, store the dry mix in a mason jar
3. When you are ready to drink it, add 2 – 4 tablespoons to a cup of hot water. Serve with cinnamon sticks, a slice of lemon, or orange slices if you please! 

Feel like gifting your new Russian Tea Mix to someone special? Grab my free printable labels and get gifting!

Russian Tea: The Video Tutorial

Following the viewing of our blogs, folks ask all the time about my little wooden spoons! I bought a set from a person who hand makes them, but I will link a similar set here for you! 😉

In most of our recipes, I also feature my favorite glass jars – I love that they are a reliable airtight container that work specifically well for liquids. Find them on Amazon here.

Printable Russian Tea Recipe Card

Pin for Later!

Try my other Hearty Hot Drink Mixes!

Our favorite Hot Cocoa

Delicious Vanilla Chai Tea Latte

Making Honey, Lemon, Ginger Tea   

Immune Boosting Elderberry Fire Cider

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