Friendship Tea Recipe (Spiced Tea with Tang and Lemonade Mix)

Friendship Tea Mix

If you’ve never tried tea with Tang, you’re in for a nostalgic treat. This Friendship Tea recipe, sometimes called Spiced Tea with Tang or Russian Friendship Tea, is a bit of a blast from the past. In fact, cookbooks from the 1970s, especially those spiral-bound community collections, often featured a version of this cozy tea mix.

Basically, this retro mix blends instant iced tea, Tang orange drink, lemonade mix, and warming spices like cinnamon and cloves.

The result is a sweet, tangy, and perfectly spiced tea that’s just as comforting today as it was decades ago.

And while you can enjoy it any time of year, a steaming mug of Friendship Tea feels especially right during the cool fall and winter months.

Why You’ll Love This Friendship Tea Recipe

• Warm & nostalgic: This spiced tea mix tastes like a cozy hug from the past, especially if you grew up in the ‘70s or ‘80s.
• Easy to make: Just stir a few pantry ingredients together. There’s no brewing required.
• Perfect for gifting: Package it in jars with a ribbon and gift tag for a thoughtful, homemade holiday gift.
• Customizable: Add red hot candies for extra cinnamon spice or blend the mix for a smoother texture.
• Shelf-stable: It stores beautifully, so you can make a big batch to enjoy all season long.

The Story Behind Friendship Tea (and Tang’s Retro Roots)

My first memory of Friendship Tea is from childhood in the 1970s, when my mother and her friends would exchange it as gifts.

While the spiced tea mix, made with Tang of all things, was always the same, each gift was packaged with care. Jars were decorated with ribbons, fabric, recipe cards, and sometimes even a little friendship poem.

At the time, the ingredients were actually pretty new! Lipton instant iced tea mix hit U.S. shelves in 1964, and while Tang, that famous “Breakfast Drink,” had been around since 1959, it was Tang’s trip to space that made it a household name.

By 1968 Tang sponsored Apollo 8’s coverage on ABC television and NASA Made Tang Cool.

Maybe that’s what led to the creation of Friendship Tea. Either way, it’s easy to see why this mix became a beloved recipe passed between friends.

Russian Friendship Tea, Spiced Tea, or Christmas Tea – What’s the Difference?

Like most retro recipes, there are plenty of variations floating around. The basic mix usually includes:

• Instant iced tea
• Tang orange drink
• Lemonade mix (like Country Time)
• Cinnamon
• Cloves

Some versions add sugar (not my preference) or even red hots, which melt into the tea for extra spice and a festive look.

Over the years, this recipe has been known by many names, including:

• Friendship Tea
• Spiced Tea Mix
• Russian Tea
• Christmas Tea Mix
• Mormon Tea
• Spiced Tea with Tang
• Russian Friendship Tea
• Christmas Tea with Red Hots

No matter what you call it, it’s a timeless classic.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Instant Iced Tea
• Tang Orange Drink Mix
• Powdered Lemonade Mix
• Ground Cinnamon
• Ground Cloves
• Red Hots (optional)

Tip: The Red Hots make a fun Christmas version. Plus they add a little extra cinnamon kick when dissolved.

How to Make Friendship Tea with Tang

Making Friendship Tea couldn’t be easier.

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

1. Combine ingredients. In a large bowl, stir together Tang, lemonade mix, instant iced tea, cinnamon, and cloves until evenly mixed.
2. Optional – blend. For a smoother, more uniform texture that dissolves easily, pulse the mix in a blender or food processor.
3. Package or store. Transfer to jars, airtight containers, or zipper bags.

To make a cup of tea, stir 2–3 teaspoons of mix into 1 cup of boiling water.

Tip: Mixing in a container with a pour spout or using a plastic zipper bag makes pouring into jars much easier.

Giving Friendship Tea Mix as a Gift

This recipe makes about 2 cups of mix, which is just the right amount to fill one standard pint mason jar.

If you’re making several jars to give as gifts, I like to mix each batch separately. That way every jar has the perfect balance of tea, Tang, lemonade and spices.

Homemade Friendship Tea makes a heartfelt, affordable gift for the holidays.

In the fall, I like to tie jars with orange ribbons and gift them around Thanksgiving. At Christmas, I often add red hots for a festive twist and use holiday ribbons.

Just be sure to include a note or tag with directions: “Add 2–3 teaspoons of mix to 1 cup boiling water. Stir and enjoy!”

Or better yet, you can download my free printable gift tags below. They come in several designs and multiple sayings.

Other easy edible gifts to pair with this one include Instant Chai Latte Mix and Homemade Mulling Spices.

Friendship Tea with Red Hots (Festive Christmas Version)

And for the Christmas holiday, why not spice up the spiced tea a little more with some red hot candies?

Not only does the Friendship Tea look more festive, but the prepared tea has even more yummy cinnamon flavor.

Printable Friendship Tea Gift Tags

A single downloadable pdf includes six sayings on each of three designs (plain, holiday, and pink stripes).

How to Make a Cup of Spiced Tea with Tang

Once you’ve got the mix ready, making a cup of this cozy tea couldn’t be simpler:

1. Add 2–3 teaspoons of the mix to a mug.
2. Pour in a cup of hot water.
3. Stir until dissolved and enjoy!

It’s the perfect sweet and spicy sip for a chilly afternoon, or to share with a friend over good conversation.

Friendship Tea Recipe