Snack · 20 min · russian

Sbiten (Hot Honey Drink)

Honey does the heavy lifting here, with water rounding it out. A Russian snack that takes 20 minutes, start to finish.

✓ USDA-verified nutrition data

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Honey
• 4 cups Water
• 1 tbsp Ginger
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 4 Cloves
• 1 Lemon

Steps

1. Simmer the water with sliced ginger, cinnamon, and cloves 10 minutes to build a spiced base.
2. Stir in the honey off the boil — boiling honey kills its delicate flavor.
3. Steep 5 minutes, then strain into a warm pitcher.
4. Add lemon juice to taste; it should be sweet, warming, and gently spiced.
5. Serve steaming in mugs; sbiten predates tea in Russia by centuries.
6. Keeps warm in a thermos for an afternoon of winter walks.

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