Russian Tea Recipe (Spiced Lemon Black Tea)

Pour the water into a pot. Add the cloves and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and gently simmer for 15–20 minutes.

Turn off the heat. Add the tea bags and let them steep for about 5 minutes; steeping too long can make it bitter.

Remove the tea bags. Strain out the cloves and cinnamon through a fine sieve. Stir in the lemon juice and sugar until fully dissolved.

Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for about 4 hours so the flavors round out. Before serving, you can reheat it or serve it chilled.

Pour into mugs. If you like, add a cinnamon stick to each cup for a simple garnish—use one of the sticks from the pot if it’s still in good shape.