"Russian Tea" Time

We make this and hot cocoa mix every year. We make the hot cocoa mix in December, usually, but the Russian Tea we make in the fall when the days start turning cool and crisp and the leaves just begin to change color.

Russian Tea, Convenience Version

* 3 cups sugar (Splenda works and tastes just fine. There's so much sugar in the other ingredients that the 'splenda' taste disguised)

* 2 cups orange flavored breakfast drink (powdered concentrate; we use Tang)

* 1 cup unsweetened instant tea mix

* 1 tsp ground cloves

* 1 tsp ground cinnamon

* 1 envelope unsweetened lemonade mix

- Combine all the ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container

- to serve, put 1 1/2 -2 rounded spoonfuls of mix into a cup filled with boiling water. Stir well.

We posted this a year ago, and there were some great comments with recipes and variations:

coffeemamma said...
This sounds similar to the way we were served coffee in Mexico! In a *huge* kettle hung from a tripod over an open fire, they boiled water, coarse ground coffee, orange quarters (rind and all) and sugar cane. When it was finished (not sure how you tell that...) it was strained and served in strange mugs that looked a little like pilsner glasses with handles- best coffee I ever tasted!


Kim C. posted the Hillbilly Housewife's version that is much more inexpensive. We haven't tried it yet, but we are definitely going to do that this year.

And Terri (no link available) said...

This is actually a modern adaptation of an old recipe. I don't know how it compares frugality-wise, but in my opinion, the old version tastes better and is more healthy. (I cannot have artificial colors either, coffeemamma.)

Try this: In your stock pot, bring to a boil two quarts of water with two cinnamon sticks and a heaping teaspoon of whole cloves. Remove from heat and add 10 tea bags. Cheap black tea is the best. Cover and allow to steep for 5 minutes or more. Add the juice of one lemon, a large can of pineapple juice (I believe it is 46 oz.) and an equal amount of orange juice. We used to be able to get orange juice very cheaply in cans, but now we just use the pineapple juice can to measure. Return to low heat and add sweetener to taste. We use honey, but the original called for white sugar. Keep warm but do not allow to boil. When it seems spicy enough, it is ready to serve. If you increase the cloves, it will effectively numb a sore throat.

We usually have this on hand in a crock pot whenever we have a winter storm or someone in the family has a cold. This is less convenient than your mix, but it has the advantage of making your house smell wonderful and so welcoming to anyone coming in from the cold.

This one sounds delicious, and we'll be giving it a try very soon.

Anybody else have a favorite fall beverage or treat?