Mama’s Russian Tea

Warm and comforting, my Russian Tea is a cozy, tea-based drink that’s perfect for sharing. This favorite family recipe that’s been passed down for generations in my family.

Fresh Russian Tea recipe

I know I’m in the minority, but I love winter. Particularly, the coziness of winter. Perhaps it’s the fact that the summer sun burns my skin or maybe it’s the lovely bulk of winter clothing, or maybe it’s just that I like to stay inside and drink warm beverages. Maybe all of the above!

It’s been a long time since I shared a family recipe on here, and I couldn’t think of a better one than my family’s favorite wintertime drink, Russian Tea.

To be honest, this tea is really more of a punch, and it’s more Southern than it is Russian. This is the beverage my great-grandmother served at gatherings from November to February, whether it was book club with her best ladies or the family Christmas Eve get-together.

I was young when she passed away (at age 102!), but I still remember her making a huge pot of Russian Tea on the stove, its spiced aromas wafting throughout her house when you walked in the door. Now, my aunts, grandmother and parents carry on this Southern tradition to make Russian Tea in the wintertime.

The recipe below doesn’t use any kind of instant mixes. It tastes so much better with real juices and spices! Trust me.

More holiday party drinks: Instant Pot Hot Chocolate • Wassail • Dairy-Free Eggnog • Jingle Juice

2023 Update: I updated this recipe to reflect my family recipe better. The original version of this recipe that I shared was a combination of my Mama’s and one I found in a cookbook, but I made it years later and it just didn’t live up to the one. I grew up with. Below you’ll find my beloved family recipe with only a couple slight modifications.

Why you’ll love this recipe

You are going to adore this cozy Russian Tea recipe!

• Served warm, this drink is oh-so-comforting and bright.
• Made with whole spices, real fruit and fresh juices, this tea-based drink is full of flavor.
• It’s a non-alcoholic drink that everyone in the family can enjoy.*

Serve it at everything from Thanksgiving dinner to Christmas Eve gatherings. It works for breakfast and brunch as well as evening parties. It keeps in the fridge, so you can make a big batch and warm it up when guests come over.

*But if you want to make it a cocktail, you totally can! Just add cinnamon whiskey, rum or brandy.

What is Russian Tea?

A lot like apple cider, Russian Tea is a tea-based hot drink steeped on the stove with spices, fruit, and juices. It was traditionally made with black tea, lemon juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, sugar (or honey), cinnamon and clove. Some recipes also call for apples and ginger as well.

The drink dates back to the early 1800s in Russia. Kompot is the name for a tea made from fruits and is enjoyed during the holidays. However, a version of this drink is very popular in the Southeastern United States, having found its way into church cookbooks and family traditions.

Many of the ingredients — tea, citrus, pineapple and spices especially — were imported, expensive and hard to find. Because of that, many modern recipes call for instant tea, powdered lemonade mix and orange juice like Tang.

My family’s Russian Tea recipe

My great-grandmother’s recipe is an old standby, and it’s great. Mama’s recipe calls for Lipton tea bags, sugar, both lemon and orange juice, a can of crushed pineapple and whole cloves. It is so flavorful, but I made a few key modifications:

• Sweetness: Her recipe was very sweet, and I almost always cut the sugar in half (or more) and sweetened it to my liking. I’ve cut down on it a lot here.
• Pulp: We have an ongoing family debate about whether the pulp is called “junk” or “trash.” Me? I’m team no-pulp, so I use juice instead of canned pineapple. (Sometimes, the fruity pulp gets a little intense!) The only fruit in my version is the garnish.
• Freshness: One of my aunts taught me to use fresh (not canned) fruits and juices for a stronger, fresher flavor.
• Better tea: Lipton tea is easy to find and works very well. But if you like tea, you might enjoy this drink with Ceylon tea, Earl Grey or English Breakfast. You can try it with other types of tea, too. Chai spice tea would be very good, but would definitely make this less Russian.

Tools & glassware 

You don’t need a lot of special equipment to make Russian Tea.

At its simplest, you will need a pot or Dutch oven, some measuring cups and a wooden spoon. A ladle is helpful for serving from the hot pot. And you’ll of course need some heat-safe mugs.

If you have any leftovers or want to make some to last a while, a pitcher or large mason jar is necessary for storing in the fridge.

party essentials

dutch oven

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disposable coffee cups

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gold coffee spoons

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Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make my Russian Tea recipe:

• black tea bags
• water
• pineapple juice
• fresh orange juice
• fresh lime juice
• sugar
• whole cloves

If you can, don’t skimp on the fresh juices. They are much brighter and less tart than the bottled concentrate, so juicing is well worth the effort.

Substitutions & variations

Try one of these variations on this recipe:

Hot or cold: A big pot of Russian Tea is a recipe fit for any chilly day. You can also drink it cold, with ice, if you prefer! That would be great in the summer — this drink has a very tropical vibe so it would work well as a cold drink.

Boozy Russian tea: Want to make it boozy? It’s so good this way! Try it with brandy, whiskey or spiced rum.

Less bitter: If you are sensitive to the bitterness of tea, you can start with cold brew iced tea. It is less bitter than hot tea because the heat is what draws out the bitterness. However, be careful not to boil your Russian tea.

Pulp: If you want to make yours exactly like my Mama’s, use a 15.5-ounce can of crushed pineapple (and all of its juices) instead of the pineapple juice. It’s too pulpy for me though!

How to make Russian Tea

Here’s how to make this homemade, fresh Russian Tea recipe:

Get out a big pot or dutch oven and add the water. Bring it to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Let them steep for 10 minutes, then remove the tea bags.

Turn the heat back on to medium-low. Add the orange juice, pineapple juice and lemon juices to the tea mixture.

Add the sugar and cloves. Stir until sugar dissolves.

Bring to a simmer for a few minutes, but don’t boil it. Then, keep warm on the stove or in a slow cooker and ladle into mugs. Garnish with orange slices and whole spices.

Let cool before storing in a pitcher or jar in the fridge for up to a week. It can be warmed again on the stove or in the microwave.

Tips & tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for making this recipe:

• Use real juices, not powdered mixes or concentrate, for the best flavor.
• If you don’t like pulp, strain the juices before you add them into the mix.
• Take the presentation up a notch with a garnish of star anise, cinnamon sticks or citrus slices.

What to serve with Russian Tea

Russian Tea is great to sip at home, curled up by the fireplace and Christmas tree, with a book in your lap. But it’s also a great holiday party drink.

You can enjoy this beverage with your favorite holiday treats, like rum balls or lemon drop cookies. Russian tea cakes are another must — these holiday cookies are to-die-for.

If you’re enjoying Russian tea with appetizers, some other Southern must-haves in my family are cheese straws, marinated cheese and sausage balls.

FAQ

More tea recipes

• Thai Iced Tea
• Bourbon Slush
• Arnold Palmer