Hot Spiced Tea Recipe

[kitwilliams]

When we were growing up, my mom made this drink for parties: black tea, lemonade concentrate, orange juice concentrate, a few cinnamon sticks and whole cloves, sugar. No one in the family has the recipe. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Would love to serve it at an open house. A great warmer-upper, and also easily made 'adult' with the addition of rum or whatever you please.

Hope someone remembers this!

Thanks!

[cookingofjoy]

This sounds similar to something my aunt used to make called Russian Tea, except hers was Tang-based like the one linked.

[kitwilliams]

Thanks for that, cookingofjoy. I've seen a lot of recipes similar to the 'russian tea'. I think SOMEONE must know of the other using the frozen concentrates...where is that Someone???

[Jenni]

Kit, if you know the ingredients, could you mix up a batch tasting as you go along to get the right proportions?

[kitwilliams]

Absolutely, Jenni. I just seem to recall that there was something really odd about it and I don't remember what! It has been decades since we've made this! But who knows? Maybe I'll come up with something better than the original! If I do, I'll let you all know.

But keep those cards and letters coming!

Thanks again!

[andiesenji]

If you go to this page you will find the same recipe that was introduced to America in the November 1947 Good Housekeeping magazine under the title "Hot Russian Spiced Tea."

I have the original recipe pasted on a file card from my grandmother's recipe box.

I came across this online recipe a couple of years ago and have it in my links folder for "Holiday" tea recipes.

My grandmother put the tea and spices in the basket of a large electric percolator/urn, plugged it in and allowed it to perk until the strength was to her liking. She then unplugged it, let it set for a few minutes and then removed the basket and stem and plugged it in again.

I've prepared it with my 30 cup West Bend urn and for a bit of different flavor, have tried it using half water and half apple cider - very tasty either way.

(I remember my grandmother serving this when she hosted an Eastern Star meeting - my grandfather was a Mason.) The ladies were suitably impressed and it wasn't long before this was a regular offering at any occasion.

Edited December 7, 2010 by andiesenji (log)

[Jaymes]

Absolutely, Jenni. I just seem to recall that there was something really odd about it and I don't remember what! It has been decades since we've made this! But who knows? Maybe I'll come up with something better than the original! If I do, I'll let you all know.

But keep those cards and letters coming!

Thanks again!

Just out of curiosity, did a google search with hot punch tea concentrate and got quite a few recipes that might suffice.

[kitwilliams]

Thanks, andiesenji...not the frozen concentrate I am used to but will likely be even better with the fresh juices.

My mom did the same with the big percolator. I can smell it now!

[kitwilliams]

That's the ticket, jenni. The word 'punch'!

Thanks for all the assistance!

[andiesenji]

Thanks, andiesenji...not the frozen concentrate I am used to but will likely be even better with the fresh juices.

My mom did the same with the big percolator. I can smell it now!

Frozen juice concentrate was not available where I grew up until well after that time period. It was probably available at markets in Paducah but I don't recall seeing it until the early '50s.

I was born and raised on my grandfather's farm and even during the latter years of WWII he would order crates of citrus shipped from Florida when the fruit came into season.

Nothing was wasted - that was when I first learned about candying citrus peel.

[Kay]

I have never made this before but here is a recipe from an older cookbook that I have, maybe from the 1960’s or so. It is a bit vague, especially as to the size of can for the frozen juices. I have not bought frozen OJ for ages but we always had it growing up and it seems that the cans back then were smallish, maybe 6 ounces.

Hope it helps. It would be pretty easy to scale down and experiment with, to achieve the taste that you remember.

Hot Drink for the Holidays

Heat—

4 cups water

2 cups sugar

In a bag—

3 sticks cinnamon

1 dozen whole cloves

6 allspice

Heat in syrup—

1 can frozen lemonade and 3 cans of water

2 cans frozen orange juice and 3 cans of water

2 quarts of brewed tea or apple cider

Serve warm.

[kitwilliams]

Thanks, Kay! That looks like the recipe! What cookbook did you find it in?

[Kay]

Good luck with it. Be glad to hear how things turn out. The recipe is from one of those 'collections' of favorite recipes put out by groups/organizations.

[kitwilliams]

Thanks, Kay. That is it. Tastes just as I remember (my mom didn't use the allspice so I didn't either).

Even better with rum.

Happy Holidays and don't forget to drink your hot spiced tea!

[Kay]

I'm so glad that the recipe worked out for you. It does sound very festive and delicious with the rum.