Todd's Russian Tea

This recipe is based on my mother's Russian Tea recipe. I serve this at every Christmas party I host. I don't know why this beverage is called "Russian Tea." However, many people in rural North Carolina make a version of it around the winter holidays.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 20
• Yields: 5 quarts

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 2  cinnamon sticks
• 1 1⁄2-2  cups white sugar
• 1 (12 ounce) can  frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1 (12 ounce) can  frozen lemonade concentrate
• 15  teaspoons  loose tea (or 3 family-size teabags)
• 5  quarts  fresh preferably bottled water

Directions

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