Russian tea mix is a spice tea that became popular in the early 1960's and was published in thousands of communtiy cookbooks. You may also know it as Friendship Tea. It makes a fantastic homemade holiday gift! Make your own labels or use the download I've provided!
½ cupunsweetened instant tea with lemonsweet or unsweet - see notes
1packetunsweetened lemon Koolaidoptional for more lemon flavor
1teaspoonground cinnamon
½teaspoonground cloves
1cupcinnamon candies
Instructions
Add the Tang, sugar, instant tea mix, Koolaid packet if using, and spices together in a large bowl.
Stir until well mixed.
Blend in the cinnamon candies.
Store in an airtight container in the pantry.
To make tea: Use 3 teaspoons of mix to 1 cup of boiling water.
Video
Notes
Expert Tip: Make this sugar free by using sugar free Tang, sugar free iced tea powder, unsweetened Koolaid, and your favorite cup for cup sugar substitute. Be sure to leave the candies out!
Put the mix in Mason jars or other pretty jars and add a cute label. You can print this one that I've made if you like.
If you want the candies to dissolve better just give them a whirl in your blender until they are all chopped up before stirring them in the tea mixture. I like to leave them whole because I like how they look.
I like to garnish the cups with a slice of fresh orange.
You can simmer this in a slow cooker for a hot, holiday punch. Add some whole cloves and stick cinnamon.
Make this into a cocktail with an ounce or two of bourbon.