Russian Tea Mix with Citrus and Spices. An old-fashioned American-style instant spiced tea mix with powdered orange and lemonade drink mixes, black tea, cinnamon and cloves. The formula and timing below are working estimates for a future kitchen trial, not a claim that a batch has been made.
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A retro American instant-tea mix
This jar combines powdered orange and lemonade drinks, instant black tea, cinnamon and cloves. 'Russian tea' is a familiar US-style name for such citrus-spice mixes here, not a claim that the formula represents a Russian tea tradition.
It is distinct from the freshly brewed whole-spice masala chai and warmed grape juice elsewhere in the calendar. The fourteen cups are a provisional estimate until the actual dry-mix volume is measured.
Choose powders by label
The orange and lemonade powders in this card are sweetened; the black tea powder is unsweetened and instant. A sugar-free drink mix or granular brew-only tea has different sweetness and dispersion.
Brands change color, acidity, caffeine and labeling. Record each brand and its ingredient panel before making nutrition, allergen or caffeine statements.
Ingredients for 14 small cup mixes
| Ingredient | Amount | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Powdered orange drink mix, sweetened | 1 cup | Check brand and label. |
| Powdered lemonade drink mix, sweetened | 1/4 cup | Check brand and label. |
| Unsweetened instant black tea powder | 1/4 cup | Not brewed tea leaves. |
| Granulated sugar | 1/4 cup | Adjust after measured tasting trial. |
| Ground cinnamon | 1 teaspoon | Dry mix. |
| Ground cloves | 1/8 teaspoon | Dry mix. |
Step-by-step method
- In a completely dry bowl whisk 1 cup sweetened powdered orange drink mix, 1/4 cup sweetened powdered lemonade drink mix, 1/4 cup unsweetened instant black tea powder, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/8 tsp ground cloves until evenly distributed.
- Transfer immediately to a clean, completely dry airtight jar, breaking up any lumps. Label the ingredient brands and preparation date; keep the mix dry.
- For one working small cup, stir approximately 2 tbsp dry mix into 8 oz hot water until dissolved. Taste the first cup and record actual strength and sweetness; branded powders differ and may require a separately measured revision.
- Measure final loose dry-mix volume and count real two-tablespoon portions before claiming a fourteen-serving yield. Do not infer a caffeine number or shelf life from a generic instant-tea label.
Whisk and keep dry
Whisk all powders and measured spices in a completely dry bowl so each scoop has some cinnamon and clove. A damp utensil can create lumps in the storage jar.
Food.com has a related orange-spiced instant Russian tea mix. This working blend has its own smaller sugar ratio; that reference is not a test of this brand combination.
Mix a cup first
Start with about two tablespoons in eight ounces hot water and stir until dissolved. This is a tasting start, not a universal mix strength; document the actual finished cup before finalizing serving guidance.
The jar itself needs no stove time. The hot water belongs to the serving directions, not the measured dry ingredient list.
Packaging and claims
Keep the jar dry and labelled. No exact shelf-life or gift-mailing claim has been verified for the ingredient brands and household container used here.
The orange-looking powder in the photo must be a dry mix, with a separately prepared cup. A photograph of fresh steeped whole spices would describe a different recipe.
Russian tea mix questions
Is this brewed tea?
No. It uses an unsweetened instant black tea powder in a dry mix.
Is it a traditional Russian recipe?
No such origin claim is made; the name refers to a US-style citrus-spiced instant tea mix.
How much goes in a cup?
Two tablespoons per eight ounces hot water are a working start, pending a brand-specific tasting trial.
Further reading and related Chefly recipes: Food.com's Russian tea mix. These are relevant references and other dishes, not evidence that this proposed formula was tested.
Recipe-card handoff — preview, not a native plugin card
Russian Tea Mix with Citrus and Spices. Category: Drinks. 14 small cup mixes. Prep approximately 10 minutes; cooking approximately 0 minutes; additional cooling/chilling approximately 0 minutes; total approximately 10 minutes excluding preheat. Not kitchen-tested; nutrition not calculated.
Ingredients: 1 cup Powdered orange drink mix, sweetened; 1/4 cup Powdered lemonade drink mix, sweetened; 1/4 cup Unsweetened instant black tea powder; 1/4 cup Granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon; 1/8 teaspoon Ground cloves.
Instructions: In a completely dry bowl whisk 1 cup sweetened powdered orange drink mix, 1/4 cup sweetened powdered lemonade drink mix, 1/4 cup unsweetened instant black tea powder, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/8 tsp ground cloves until evenly distributed. Transfer immediately to a clean, completely dry airtight jar, breaking up any lumps. Label the ingredient brands and preparation date; keep the mix dry. For one working small cup, stir approximately 2 tbsp dry mix into 8 oz hot water until dissolved. Taste the first cup and record actual strength and sweetness; branded powders differ and may require a separately measured revision. Measure final loose dry-mix volume and count real two-tablespoon portions before claiming a fourteen-serving yield. Do not infer a caffeine number or shelf life from a generic instant-tea label.
Allergens: Check orange drink, lemonade, instant tea and spice labels for allergens and cross-contact. Review packaged ingredients and cross-contact before serving.
Print
Russian Tea Mix with Citrus and Spices
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 14 servings 1x
Description
A dry citrus-spice instant tea mix, approximately fourteen two-tablespoon portions pending measured jar volume.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Powdered orange drink mix, sweetened
- 1/4 cup Powdered lemonade drink mix, sweetened
- 1/4 cup Unsweetened instant black tea powder
- 1/4 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon Ground cloves
Instructions
- In a completely dry bowl whisk 1 cup sweetened powdered orange drink mix, 1/4 cup sweetened powdered lemonade drink mix, 1/4 cup unsweetened instant black tea powder, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon and 1/8 tsp ground cloves until evenly distributed.
- Transfer immediately to a clean, completely dry airtight jar, breaking up any lumps. Label the ingredient brands and preparation date; keep the mix dry.
- For one working small cup, stir approximately 2 tbsp dry mix into 8 oz hot water until dissolved. Taste the first cup and record actual strength and sweetness; branded powders differ and may require a separately measured revision.
- Measure final loose dry-mix volume and count real two-tablespoon portions before claiming a fourteen-serving yield. Do not infer a caffeine number or shelf life from a generic instant-tea label.
Notes
Recipe-development draft; not kitchen-tested. Timing and yield are estimates. Nutrition has not been calculated.
Untested estimate; powder density, product brands and actual mixed volume change yield and sweetness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Drinks
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Two tablespoons dry mix stirred into about 8 ounces hot water