Alright, picture this: You're kicking back with your buddies, sharing laughs, swapping stories, and just soaking in those good vibes. Now, imagine adding a little extra warmth to the scene with a cup of Friendship Tea. It's not just your average tea – it's like a hug in a mug, a flavorful celebration of the awesome connections in your life.
So, let's spill the tea, quite literally, on how to whip up this friendship magic. Get ready to brew up some liquid camaraderie that's as easygoing and delightful as your best pal!
The History Of Friendship Tea
If you grew up in the 80s, you might have seen your mother or grandmother with a mason jar of powdered and swirled dry ingredients gifted to her by a friend around the holiday season. This Friendship Tea, also referred to as Russian Tea, or Christmas Tea, was a popular homemade gift to give acquaintances around the holidays.
It is passed from friend to friend in mason jars and stirred into a mug of hot water to create a fruity spiced sipping beverage. You'll find the original recipe in many old church cookbooks.
The first time I was served this homemade tea mix. I remember being delighted that it was kid friendly (because I was 8), thanks to the addition of dried lemonade drink mix and Tang (along with a healthy dose of Christmas themed spices).
This tea comes out sweet and spiced but not so overpowering that an adult wouldn't love to snuggle up with a mug under the Christmas tree.
Whether you have a sore throat and you're craving a steaming mug to soothe your soul on a cold day, or you’re crafty and looking for a homemade gift to give someone a token of your affection, Friendship Tea is the perfect choice.
What is Tang?
Tang is a powdered orange drink mix that makes up the base of this russian tea recipe. It was wildly popular in the mid twentieth century, but it can still be found on grocery store shelves.
It tastes like a sort of cross between fresh orange juice and kool-aid. As a dry mix, it blends well into powder to make a shareable homemade drink base, also bringing a nice fruity flavor to the basic black tea formula.
How To Make Russian Tea with Tang
To whip up a batch of this Russian spiced tea all you'll need are a few simple ingredients...
- Instant Tea (not dried tea bags, this is powdered black tea that dissolves in water)
- Lemonade Mix
- Tang Drink Mix
- Ground Cinnamon
- Ground Cloves
- Jars For Filling With Drink Mix if Gifting
- Small Note or Recipe Card To Share Drink Ingredients With Friends
Friendship Tea With Tang
To make the spiced tea mix, you'll shake all of the ingredients together in an airtight container such as a large ziplock baggie, or whisk them together in a large bowl or food processor. Then fill a large jar with the instant spiced tea.
Instruct friends with a card or note that to serve they will mix 2-3 teaspoons of russian friendship tea with boiling water in a coffee mug. More mix can be added to taste!
Tang Hot Tea Recipe Variations
This tea is traditionally served as homemade gifts, but we've got some modern ideas to round out your celebrations.
During the Christmas holidays a big batch of this tea made be served buffet style. You can serve an entire recipe chilled in a crystal punch bowl similar to a cold apple cider. For adults, you may choose to spike the punch with a bit of brandy or whiskey.
Another method is to serve as the perfect warm drink in a festive mug, decorated with cinnamon sticks.
Hot Cocoa and Friendship Tea can be held warm on the stove or in a thermos for outdoor holiday events like caroling or viewing Christmas light displays.
Tang Tea Recipe
Directions for the hot tea mix is to stir in 2-3 teaspoons per cup of hot water in a mug. The warm spice flavors are family friendly and a vintage southern favorite.
Friendship Tea Recipe (Spiced Tea Recipe With Tang)
Ingredients
- 1 container Tang 26.2 oz.
- 1 cup unsweet instant tea regular or decaf
- 1 3/4 cups instant lemonade such as Country Time
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground clove
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the orange tang base, lemonade, and instant tea. Add 2 teaspoons each of ground cinnamon and cloves.
- Mix well.
- Transfer to glass jars as a perfect gift to friends to warm them in seasons of cold weather.
- To make a cup of tea, fill a mug with hot water and stir in 2-3 teaspoons instant russian tea mix, to taste.
- Can be served as a hot beverage or make a large batch and chill for holiday punch.
Anderson says
This would be great for a get-together. The way you describe the citrus flavors is easy to follow. What an appealing way to serve this.
Pam says
That flavor combination sounds wonderful. The practical advice on the holiday gifting angle is excellent. Really glad you covered that.
Jillian says
I really liked the helpful tips in this Friendship Tea with Tang recipe. The instructions are so easy to follow!
Ellen says
I grew up drinking this tea and it's one of my very favorite Christmas memories! That said, please check your nutrition info because with all the sugar in the Tang and Lemonade it has way more than 5 calories and 1 g sugar ◡̈ That's what makes it so yummy! Thanks for the recipe. I think I have one on one of my mom's old recipe cards. She used to insist on Wylers Lemonade and that can't be found any more. I may gift this for Xmas this year. Thank you so much!
Ann Smith says
Have diabetic friends, plan to make with the unsweetened koolaid packets, orange and lemonade, they can add as much or as little sugar as they like...
Kathy says
How large of a container would I need for this recipe?
Sarah Penrod says
The jars in the image are 16 oz.
Pam Roberts says
I can’t find Tang
Diana says
Just found 2 cans of Lipton instant tea without lemon at Walmart in Grand Rapids. Also had ordered a brand of instant tea called WACA (brand) from Amazon. It is delicious!
Ash says
Can this be made without the instant tea??
Carmen says
I just confirmed Lipton that they are no longer producing Unsweetened instant tea. What are you using as a substitute?
Sarah Penrod says
Dang, I was just about to do this recipe on my YouTube channel. I will have to play with the ingredients today and get back to you....I will say there are unsweetened instant black teas on Amazon Prime that are not the Lipton brand. If you are looking for a quick fix I would probably use one of those ---> https://amzn.to/4eGipes
Patti Ashton says
Hi Carmen. We make this tea at our church for our Holiday sale. I think I bought the last possible jar of unsweetened out there. Therefore we needed to revise the recipe. This is what we came up with after several tries.
1 C Tang
2 Cups Lipton Lemon Instant tea
1-2 TBS cinnamon
1tsp ground clove
1 heaping TBS per cup of hot water.
EG says
Lipton instant tea still available. My local Kroger has ample stock on hand.
H says
I was able to order it from Walmart and Amazon at reasonable prices.
Sass says
I use 1 cup tang and 1 cup of lemon instant tea and the spices as cannot find plain instant tea and it works.