Tranya is a nonalcoholic drink made with lemon, lime, and orange juice. Popular with Star Trek fans, but enjoyed by all!
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Time for a Star Trek recipe. I shared one for Star Wars Day last month, so to maintain the balance it seems only natural. Plus, this drink is cool and refreshing. It’s just what we need for the summer. If you aren’t a hard-core fan, let me provide some back story on this drink called tranya.
Tranya is a drink first introduced in The Original Series. An alien named Balok serves it to Captain Kirk and members of his crew in the episode The Corbomite Maneuver. In the episode, it appears to be little more than a drink that is orange. Not too descriptive.
Later, during the Deep Space Nine series, it is the favorite drink of Jadzia Dax and served in Quark’s Bar regularly. It can be served cold or hot.
With little to go on but a handful of recipes made by other fans, I decided that it would be easy enough to create my own recipe. To explore, so to say. To boldly go.
This recipe is easy to follow and whips up in no time. (If you think I made it wrong, that’s totally fine! I wasn’t there in the ’60s.)
How to make tranya
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 6 1/2 cups water, roughly
- ice cubes (optional)
Instructions
1. Combine and heat ingredients.
Combine the juices and honey in a pot on the stove top. Heat the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the honey has dissolved. It doesn’t need to be very hot and it definitely shouldn’t boil.
2. Chill and dilute.
Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then pour it in your favorite 2-quart pitcher. Fill the pitcher about half way with water and stir to combine. If you are adding ice, now is the time to do it. This will cool the drink quickly. Fill the pitcher the rest of the way up with water.
3. Serve.
Serve cold, over ice if you like. To make the hot version, add a few spoonfuls to a mug of hot black tea.
Since many of the popular Star Trek drink recipes include alcohol, this is a kid-friendly alternative that adults will enjoy too. Of course, feel free to add alcohol if you prefer. You can also sub sparkling water for some or all of the water to make this bubbly.
Printable recipe card
Star Trek Tranya
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 6-1/2 cups water
- ice cubes (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the juices and honey in a pot on the stove top. Heat the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the honey has dissolved. It doesn't need to be very hot and it definitely shouldn't boil.
- Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then pour it into a 2-quart pitcher.
- Fill the pitcher about half way with water and stir to combine. If you are adding ice, now is the time to do it. This will cool the drink quickly. Fill the pitcher the rest of the way up with water.
- Serve cold, over ice if you like. To make the hot version, add a few spoonfuls to a mug of hot black tea.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 149Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gSodium: 11mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 0gSugar: 38gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information is only an estimate from online calculators. For more precise information, enter the specific ingredients you are using into your preferred tool.
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
Sounds delicious!
Just heard the child actor describe Tranya as a mix of 7-UP and pink grapefruit juice while interviewed by Dennis Miller on his radio show (3-16-15).
Ooh, that would be a sweet and tart combo.
Live long and Prosper while enjoying this – and petting a stuffed Tribble.
Young Clint Howard, who played the alien Balok, absolutely HATED grapefruit juice, so it took all his might to take a sip and not grimace. Now, THAT’S acting!
Indeed! I received a copy of THE BOYS, sort of a dual autobiography of Clint and Ron Howard. Plain WARM grapefruit juice poured out of a metal can! Intergalactic wars have been started over much less insult than that!
Thanks for sharing! I don’t think I could palate a glass of warm grapefruit juice. And I’m sure my kids wouldn’t touch it!
I always thought Tranya was Tang, an American drink mix brand that was formulated by General Foods Corporation food scientist William A. Mitchell and General Foods Corporation chemist William Bruce James in 1957, and first marketed in powdered form in 1959. The Tang brand is currently owned in most countries by Mondelēz International, a 2012 North American company spun off from Kraft Foods. Kraft Heinz owns the Tang brand in North America.
One problem with the recipe, orange juice and lemon juice — frozen concentrate, frozen concentrate reconstituted, fresh? I’m guessing frozen concentrate!
Hi Sissy! Thanks for asking. I just used regular juices. You could use juice that you made from frozen concentrate or fresh squeezed, but you’ll need to start this recipe with the juice already made.