Russian Tea

This Russian tea is citrusy, sweet and spicy, so it’s perfect for warming up on a chilled autumn or winter day. While we like to use instant orange, lemon and black tea mixes here for convenience and longer storage, you can also make this drink from scratch. Just know that you may need to experiment with the right proportions and brewing times.

This is just one of our favorite tea recipes, which range from spicy and hot, like this drink, to cool and creamy, like bubble tea.

Ingredients for Russian Tea

• Orange drink mix: Made from a combination of orange flavor, sugar and citric acid, an orange breakfast drink mix is a great shortcut to achieve a sweet, citrusy flavor. One brand nearly everyone recognizes is Tang, and you can make this Russian tea recipe with Tang, but there are many more brands on the market that would also work.
• Instant tea: Typically, makers of instant tea first extract the liquor from the black tea leaves and then dry the extract to create a powder. It’s a super convenient ingredient for making a variety of tea recipes.
• Sugar: Because each instant drink mix will have varying levels of sugar, feel free to first make your recipe for Russian tea without extra sugar. Once you’ve tried the tea, you can determine if your drink needs more sugar.
• Lemonade drink mix: While orange has a more mellow, sweet flavor, lemons are more tart and astringent. That said, lemonade mix already includes sugar to help balance flavors.
• Cinnamon: This warming spice is very compatible with citrus flavors—take this orange-cinnamon French toast, for example.
• Cloves: Since they are aromatic and intense in flavor, using only a touch of ground cloves will do the trick.

Directions

Step 1: Blend the ingredients

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Combine all the ingredients, and mix well.

Step 2: Make a cup of tea

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To serve, add 2 tablespoons Russian tea mix to 3/4 cup boiling water and stir to mix.

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Russian Tea Variations

• Add some extra spice: Some Russian tea recipes include additional fall spices, like nutmeg or allspice. Still others enjoy a pinch of cayenne, which, if you can handle the heat, enhances every flavor in this drink.
• Try it with pineapple: Pineapple is very compatible with citrus flavors, so it works great in this recipe. Feel free to use an instant pineapple drink mix or simply pour some pineapple juice into your finished Russian tea.

How to Store Russian Tea

To store this recipe for Russian tea, transfer the powder mix to an airtight container, preferably one made of glass. Avoid using metal containers here because it can change the flavor of the tea, as well as make it less safe to drink. Keep the container in a cool, dry place.

How long does Russian tea last?

As long as it’s kept in the right conditions, most Russian tea recipes can last for up to one year. That said, it depends on which brands you choose, because the ingredients used will vary slightly. To be sure, check the manufacturer’s best-by date on each drink mix.

Russian Tea Tips

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What’s the secret to brewing good tea?

Good tea starts with good water, so we recommend using filtered, fresh water. Apart from this, there are things to know about how to steep tea, such as the fact that different teas are steeped at various temperatures and lengths of time.

Why is Russian tea called Russian?

While tea first arrived in Russia in the 1600s, this Russian tea recipe traces back to the 1800s. That said, like England and their tea party recipes, Russia has adopted a wide range of teas and accompanying foods to create their own tea culture.

What tea is popular in Russia?

One blend that’s particularly unique to Russia is referred to as Russian Caravan. The story goes that as tea was transported by caravan from Asia to Russia, the smoke from the campfires made along the way absorbed into the tea leaves. As a result, the tea took on a malty, smoky flavor.