By Shelly Koon
Contributing Writer
Growing up in Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota I often came in after playing in the snow with frozen mittens and a red nose. To warm me up my mom would make me a mug of hot sweet tea or if I was lucky, she would make me Russian tea.
One thing the holidays always included was Christmas Tea also called Russian Tea or Friendship Tea. This tea mix was gifted from us to our teachers and from our neighbors to us.
Interestingly enough, though it’s commonly called Russian Tea, this recipe does not hail from Russia. However, you will find some variation of it in just about every church cookbook in the South. Friendship tea’s origin is an American tradition from the mid-20th century, evolving from Russian style tea, which was historically a strong black tea with lemon and sugar. As instant powdered drink mixes, particularly Tang and lemonade, became popular in the 1960s, American homemakers began creating dry, mixed versions of the tea for ease of preparation and as convenient gifts. This practice of sharing homemade mixes of Tang, sugar, instant tea, and spices in jars gave the beverage the popular nickname “Friendship Tea”
Versions of friendship tea have been a favorite with Southerners for more than a century. In 1907, the San Antonio Gazette shared a recipe that used orange, lemons, and spices along with rum. By 1966, however, those fresh juices and loose-leaf teas had been replaced with instant tea, Tang, and other handy ingredients. 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.
When the 60s hit, everyone was excited about space travel & astronauts. All the cool kids were drinking Tang. What better time to create an instant version of this classic drink? The Tang drink mix was first marketed in 1959. Sales of Tang were poor until NASA used it on John Glenn’s Mercury flight in 1962, and later on Gemini missions. This attention greatly increased sales and people quickly began using the drink mix for other recipes.
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. Just the scent of this tea mix reminds me of the holidays but it is delicious anytime of the year. Especially if you have a cold.
Another tea mix I like is Chai tea. This sweet and spicy tea feels like a warm hug on a cold day.
The word “chai” simply means “tea” in many parts of the world, but in the West, it comes to refer specifically to “masala chai,” a traditional spiced tea originating from India. Masala chai is more than just tea— it’s a fragrant blend of black tea, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and other spices, simmered with milk and sweetened to taste. Every family in India has its own version of chai, passed down through generations, making each cup a unique experience.
Chai isn’t just a drink; it’s a ritual. It’s the kind of drink that invites you to slow down, to take a break, and to share a moment with someone special. There’s a timeless quality to chai, as its blend of spices has warmed hearts and homes for centuries.
Chai became a symbol of hospitality and friendship in Indian culture. Vendors, or “chaiwalas,” would serve the tea in crowded markets and along busy streets, offering a small moment of connection to everyone who stopped by. Sharing chai with friends remains a cherished part of Indian culture—a pause in the day to enjoy the warmth of the tea and the company of others.
I can’t imagine anyone not having the Christmas Tea mix recipe but you never know. Since I plan on giving this mix out at work this year, I thought I would include it here with a chai tea recipe.
Christmas Tea
1 Cup powdered orange drink mix (Tang)
2/3 Cup dry instant tea* (Lipton)
1/2 Cup sugar
2 Tablespoons powdered lemonade mix (Country Time)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon powdered cloves
Cinnamon red hots
Add all of the ingredients together in a bowl, large container, or gallon-size plastic zipper bag. Mix well.
To serve: Add 1 heaping tablespoon per mug of hot water. Stir and enjoy!
*The only instant tea I could find had added lemon. I couldn’t tell that it changed the flavor all that much, but you could always use less lemonade or add more cinnamon and cloves.
Chai Tea Mix
This instant chai tea mix makes a delicious latte.
Ingredients
2 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups unsweetened instant tea
1 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1 cup French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
Directions
Gather the ingredients. Combine sugar, instant tea, milk powder, nondairy creamer, and vanilla-flavored creamer in a large bowl. Stir in ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom. Blend 1 cup at a time in a food processor or blender until a fine powder. To serve: Stir 2 heaping tablespoons chai tea mix into a mug of hot water for 1 serving.
Recipe Tips: You can use vanilla extract instead of French vanilla creamer by mixing 2 teaspoons of vanilla with the sugar, letting it dry, then breaking the sugar into small lumps. Proceed as directed above. Spice it up even more by adding 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of allspice, and 1/4 of teaspoon white pepper.