Mamas Old Fashioned Russian Tea Recipes

MOM'S RUSSIAN TEA

Steps:

• Bring 8 cups water to a boil in a large stockpot. Remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags and return pot to medium heat.
• Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a separate pot. Add sugar; stir well until dissolved. Pour mixture into the stockpot with the tea. Add pineapple juice, orange juice concentrate, and lemon juice. Stir.
• Put cloves in a tea ball and place into the stockpot with the tea-juice mixture. Cook for 10 minutes; do not boil. Turn heat down to very low; let simmer until flavors blend, 15 to 20 minutes more.

MAMIE'S TEACAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Grease two large (14-by-16-inch) cookie sheets with shortening.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Using an electric mixer set to medium speed, cream the butter and sugar together. Add the eggs and vanilla. Add the sour cream and mix well. On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until just blended. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board, and gently pat with floured hands to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with a 2-inch round, floured cookie cutter and place about 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets. Bake until the teacakes are lightly browned, about 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of sugar and remove the cookies to a rack to cool.

AUNT DOROTHY'S RUSSIAN TEA

Steps:

• Place cloves and cinnamon stick on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Gather corners of cloth to enclose seasonings; tie securely with string. Place in a 6-qt. stockpot., Add water; bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add tea bags; steep, covered, 5 minutes according to taste. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine sugar, orange juice and lemon juice; bring to a boil. Discard spice bag and tea bags. Stir juice mixture into tea. Serve immediately.

GRANDMA'S RUSSIAN TEA

Steps:

• Steep tea bags in boiling water until the tea is of desired strength, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags.
• Combine 1 1/2 quarts water, cloves, and cinnamon together in a large pot; bring to a boil. Stir brewed tea, pineapple juice, sugar, orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate, and allspice into the boiling water to dissolve the sugar. Serve immediately or reduce heat to low and keep at a simmer until ready to serve.

RUSSIAN TEA CAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
• Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

MAMA'S OLD-FASHIONED RUSSIAN TEA

Steps:

• Boil water with cloves and cinnamon sticks for 20 minutes in large non-aluminum pot.
• Remove from heat, add the tea bags and cover.
• Allow mixture to"steep" for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• After steeping process is completed, combine in another sauce pan the orange, pineapple, and lemon juices with the sugar.
• Heat gently, stirring to melt and mix the sugar.
• Drain spices from tea mixture.
• Combine the tea and juice mixtures.
• Heat and enjoy!
• NOTE: Preparation time does not include"steeping time".

RUSSIAN TEA MIX

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients; mix well. Store in an airtight container. To serve, add 2 tablespoons mix to 3/4 cup boiling water; stir.

TODD'S RUSSIAN TEA

Steps:

• Place 3 qts of water in a large pot, and add cloves and cinnamon sticks.
• Bring water to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 25 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and place a mesh tea-infusion basket of tea (or 3 teabags) into the pot. Steep tea for only 5 minutes.
• After removing the tea-infusion basket or teabags, add sugar to the pot and stir until it dissolves.
• Add cans of concentrate, plus 2 qts of water.
• Bring the whole mixture up to temperature and serve hot.
• This tea refrigerates well for a few days with the cloves and cinnamon sticks removed. Always serve hot, though.