Instant Russian Tea recipe with Tang is an old holiday favorite that’s the perfect inexpensive hot drink for the holidays!
(I’ve included some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
The slightly sweet smell of an evergreen tree.
Christmas tree lights twinkling in a dimly lit room.
Strains of beautiful music from Point of Grace A Christmas Story CD.
Sound perfect? I think so! The one day that stands out in all our family traditions is Thanksgiving Day.
Since our children were little the day began with me putting the burly turkey in the oven before anyone opened their eyes.
My precious babies (and their lucky dad!) awakened to the smell of turkey wafting through the house and the countdown to Thanksgiving Day parades.
The first year our oldest daughter got married she had a rough transition when Thanksgiving Day arrived and her newlywed home was sadly missing those traditions!
From our family meal of turkey and all the fixin’s to hunting down the perfect tree at the Christmas tree lot, this day is one to cherish for all of us.
Over the many years of celebrating we incorporated simple customs that became familiar parts of our routine.
Instant Russian Tea is a tasty part of this tradition as well. This hot beverage is one our family always enjoys on Thanksgiving night as we decorate the Christmas tree.
We love to drink the tea all winter but the first batch gets made just before Thanksgiving.
That first year our oldest daughter got married and was away from home she insisted we wait to all drink Russian Tea together. She didn’t want to miss a moment of our time together!
This hot beverage is delicious served to a group or enjoyed alone while quietly sitting by a beautifully lit Christmas tree in the evening. (Or for me, while looking at our Christmas village.)
Some readers have asked if Tang is still available. The answer is yes but if you can’t find it at your favorite store you can order it here on Amazon.
Note of caution: Do not try and use whole cloves to save money by crushing them yourselves (and for those sharp readers, whole cloves are pictured in the ingredients. Please disregard!) Picking bits of cloves out of your tea is not fun. Not that I would know about that ~eye roll~
What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? I’d love if you’d share with me!
Instant Russian Tea Recipe with Tang
Ingredients:
1 lb. jar instant orange drink (Tang)
1 pkg. unsweetened lemonade-Aid
3/4 cup unsweetened instant tea
2 cups sugar
1 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 lb. jar instant orange drink Tang
- 1 pkg. unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid
- 3/4 cup unsweetened instant tea
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp ground cloves
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
-
Mix all ingredients well and store in tightly closed container.
-
Add to hot water as many teaspoons as desired to taste.
I used sweetened instant tea and cut back on the amount of sugar added to compensate. I also used 4 single instant lemonade packets instead of kool-aid.
Need some ideas for holiday entertaining? This is the best frozen punch recipe ever and one that is always requested at my Christmas parties.
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites are just the right combination of sweet and salty!
Love these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Cookies because you can make the basic mix ahead of time!
Thanks, Marty. I had this recipe (or a similar one made with Tang) about 25 years ago and loved giving it as a gift in a glass jar. But I lost it many years ago. Thanks for helping me “find” it. Bless you, Gail
Hi, Gail. Thanks for visiting Marty’s Musings. I’m glad you found the Russian Tea Recipe. It is a big tradition at our house! Hope you are having a blessed holiday season.
My mom used to make this when we were growing up. Thanks for sharing. I think I’ll make this for my kids this week.
Hi, Jenny! Thanks for visiting Marty’s Musings! I’m glad you enjoyed the Instant Russian Tea recipe and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do!
I am glad you posted this! My best friend served me some of this years ago, and I could never remember what it was called! I knew it had tang in it! Thank you so much for posting this recipe! YAY!
Amy
http://www.amystebbins.com
I love this – we drank it during the holidays when I was a kid. I’d love for you to share this at Tuesday’s Table for the Holidays – http://zentmrs.blogspot.com/2012/11/tuesdays-table-holiday-ideas.html
This looks great. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones! I would love for you to visit me and see the centerpiece at my Thanksgiving table I am visiting you from Savvy Southern Style!
This sounds wonderful. Do you prepare it like you would packets of hot chocolate? How much do you recommend adding to a mug of hot water? Thanks for sharing! Linda @www.paperseedlings.com
Hey, Lisa! I couldn’t remember whether I sent you a message on my Russian Tea but I wanted to let you know you really just use enough for your taste. Heat some hot water (microwave is fine) and add the mix and you’re done! Thanks for visiting Marty’s Musings.
This sounds super delicious!
I remember making this many, many years ago. It was so good! I’m definitely going to make it this year! So glad you shared it!
Oh yum, this sounds good! Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!
Just wanted to let you know I featured this today on my blog! You can check it out and grab a Featured button here: http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/11/the-fun-in-functional-link-party-27/
This is similar to a tea recipe from my grandmother… and I love having this every winter. Thanks for bringing up great memories! And thank you for linking up at I Gotta Create!
<3 Christina
Yum!! Would love it if you linked up on my blog hop http://www.w-t-fab.com/search/label/bloghop. Also let me know if you’d like to follow each other!
That looks so good, Marty!
Thanks for linking up this week!
Stacey of Embracing Change
This used to be my favorite cold weather drink and I haven’t seen the recipe in years. I’m looking forward to making it again. I know it will bring back lots of good memories.
Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
Sherry
Ah, an old favorite! Long ago lost the recipe for this – glad to have found it! 🙂
Hey, Lisa! I’m glad you found my Russian Tea recipe. It is always a huge hit on our home!
[email protected]’s Musings
Where does this recipe come from, and why is it called Russian Tea? Like many of your other readers, we still drink this today and enjoyed it all through my childhood. As kids though, I guess “Russian” was too hard to say, so we called it Tang Tea as much as we called it Russian Tea.
I too have had this years ago. My church choir always had it on hand before a performance. It is great for the throat and sinuses. Ai love it. Unfortunetly due to moves and time I had lost the recipe. Thanks for sharing it.
Maren
Hi, Maren. I’m so glad you found my recipe! It’s such a memorable part of our holidays! Have a blessed day!