Spiced Christmas Tea: A Delicious and Festive Holiday Beverage
Looking for a delicious and festive beverage to serve during the holiday season? Look no further than spiced Christmas tea, also known as Russian friendship tea. This warm and flavorful drink is perfect for sharing with loved ones or enjoying by the fire on a cold winter night. With a unique blend of spices and citrus flavors, this tea is sure to become a beloved tradition in your household. In this article, we'll guide you through the process of making spiced Christmas tea so you can impress your guests with this delightful holiday treat.
Spiced Christmas tea is a great beverage to mix and gift to loved ones during the holiday season. Its unique blend of spices and citrus flavors makes it a flavorful and festive treat that is perfect for sharing with friends and family. It is also easy to make in large batches, which makes it an ideal gift for those who appreciate homemade treats. Plus, by packaging the tea mix in decorative jars or bags, you can create a personalized and thoughtful gift that is sure to be appreciated.
What are the Other Names for Friendship Tea?
Spiced Christmas tea and Russian friendship tea are the two most common names for this type of tea. However, there are a few other names it may go by depending on the region or variation of the recipe, including:
Christmas tea
Holiday tea
Friendship tea
Russian tea mix
Russian spiced tea
Mulled tea
Winter tea
Orange spice tea
While the ingredients and preparation methods may vary slightly among these different names, they all generally refer to a tea that is spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and other warming spices, and often includes citrus flavors such as orange or lemon.
Why do They Call it Russian Tea?
The history and origins of spiced Christmas tea, also known as Russian friendship tea, are somewhat unclear and debated. The tea is said to have originated in the United States in the 19th century and was originally called "Russian tea," despite having no direct connection to Russia.
One theory suggests that the tea was given its name due to its association with the Russian samovar, a traditional Russian tea urn. Another theory suggests that the name may have been used to make the tea seem exotic and sophisticated, as Russia was seen as a cultural and intellectual center at the time.
Regardless of its origins, spiced Christmas tea quickly became popular in the United States, particularly in the Midwest and South, where it became a staple of holiday gatherings and gift-giving. The tea is typically made by steeping a mixture of black tea, spices, and citrus flavors, and is often served hot with honey or sugar to taste.
Today, spiced Christmas tea remains a beloved holiday beverage and is enjoyed by people around the world as a festive and flavorful treat.
What is Friendship Tea Made of?
Spiced Christmas tea, also known as Russian friendship tea, is typically made of a combination of black tea, warming spices, and citrus flavors. The specific ingredients may vary depending on the recipe or personal preferences, but some common ingredients include:
Black tea: This forms the base of the tea and provides a robust, full-bodied flavor. Some recipes call for specific types of black tea, such as Darjeeling or orange pekoe, while others simply use a plain black tea.
Spices: The spices used in spiced Christmas tea typically include cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg. These warming spices add a rich, complex flavor to the tea and make it perfect for cold winter days.
Citrus flavors: Many spiced Christmas tea recipes also call for citrus flavors, such as orange juice, lemon juice, or orange zest. These add a bright, tangy flavor to the tea and help balance out the richness of the spices.
Sweetener: Some recipes call for a sweetener, such as honey or sugar, to balance out the spiciness of the tea.
Optional ingredients: Some spiced Christmas tea recipes also call for additional ingredients, such as instant tea powder, powdered Tang, or even powdered lemonade mix, to enhance the flavor and texture of the tea.
Overall, spiced Christmas tea is a flavorful and festive beverage that can be customized to suit individual tastes and preferences.
Is Russian Friendship Tea Actually Good for You?
Spiced Christmas tea, also known as Russian friendship tea, can have some health benefits due to its ingredients. Black tea, the base of the tea, contains antioxidants that may help improve heart health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. Additionally, the spices used in the tea, such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, and may help improve digestion and blood sugar control.
However, it's important to note that many spiced Christmas tea recipes may also contain added sugar or sweeteners, which can negate some of these health benefits and contribute to weight gain and other health issues when consumed in excess. Additionally, some pre-made tea mixes may contain artificial ingredients or preservatives that can be harmful to health.
To ensure that spiced Christmas tea is healthy, it's best to use high-quality ingredients, limit added sugars, and consume the tea in moderation as part of a balanced and varied diet. Overall, while spiced Christmas tea may not be a "superfood," it can be a delicious and comforting beverage to enjoy in moderation during the holiday season.
What to Pair With Friendship Tea
A hot cuppa and cake is the best combo EVER. Here are some great cake recipes to pair with this spiced Christmas tea:
What are the Ways to Enjoy Friendship Tea?
Hot: Traditionally, friendship is is enjoyed hot. To make it hot, take 1-3 teaspoons of your spiced mix and add a cup of freshly boiled water, keep stirring to dissolve and enjoy for a warming soothing cuppa.
Iced: You can also make this spiced tea iced. To make it iced, take 3-6 teaspoons of your spiced mix and add half a cup of freshly boiled water. Keep stirring to dissolve and pour over a large glass full of ice.
Ice lollies: You can even make friendship tea ice cubes and ice lollies. Take 1-3 teaspoons of spiced tea mix per 1 cup of freshly boiled water. Pour into ice cube or ice lolly mold and allow to freeze.
Sparkling: To enjoy sparkling friendship tea, add your frozen ice cubes and pour over sparkling water to make carbonated tea (and perhaps a dash of grenadine and a glace cherry for a festive mocktail).
Hot toddy: Enjoy as a hot tea toddy. To make a hot tea toddy, take 1-3 teaspoons of your spiced mix and add a cup of freshly boiled water. Keep stirring until it has dissolved. Add a dash of your favourite tipple and slices of citrus fruit. Friendship tea is super sweet but if you like an even sweeter hot tea toddy, add a drizzle of honey.
Tips for Making This Christmas Friendship Tea Recipe
You can use with unsweetened or sweetened iced tea powder for this recipe. I sometimes find it difficult to source unsweetened iced tea and so I opt for the sweeter version.
For the lemonade powder, feel free to mix it up a little with the flavours. I especially love using black cherry lemonade, or pink lemonade powder.
Enjoy your spiced tea hot, iced or as a tea toddy. There are lots of ways to enjoy this festive time tea.
How to Make Festive Friendship Tea From Scratch
INGREDIENTS
1 cup instant iced tea
1/2 cup Tang orange drink mix
1/2 cup lemonade powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
1 handful (or more) of Red Hots - optional
METHOD
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl, jug or in a zip lock bag.
Store your spiced tea mix in your zip lock bag or in a mason jar and use 2 teaspoons of your mix per 1 cup (8fl oz) of freshly boiled water and enjoy :)
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