Description
This Southern Sweet Tea recipe captures the classic refreshingly sweet and smooth flavor of a beloved Southern staple. With a simple combination of brewed black tea, plenty of sugar, and cold water, it’s the perfect iced tea for hot days, slow afternoons, or any time you crave a cool, sweet drink with a hint of citrus. Easy to make and customizable with lemon slices and ice, this tea is a crowd-pleaser that yields about 8 servings.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 4 cups water
- 4-6 black tea bags (such as Lipton)
Sweetener
- 1 to 1½ cups granulated sugar
Additional
- 4 cups cold filtered water
- Lemon slices (optional)
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Boil Water: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of fresh filtered water to a rolling boil to prepare for steeping the tea.
- Steep Tea: Remove the saucepan from heat and add 4-6 black tea bags. Let the tea bags steep for 5-7 minutes to extract full flavor.
- Sweeten Tea: While the tea is still warm, stir in 1 to 1½ cups of granulated sugar until it is fully dissolved, creating the signature sweetness of Southern tea.
- Dilute and Cool: Pour in an additional 4 cups of cold filtered water to dilute the strong concentrate and help cool the mixture.
- Refrigerate: Transfer the sweetened tea into a pitcher and place it in the refrigerator. Chill for at least one hour or until cold.
- Serve: Pour the chilled tea over ice cubes in tall glasses. Garnish with lemon slices if desired for an added refreshing citrus note.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of sugar based on your preferred level of sweetness.
- Use good quality black tea bags for the best flavor.
- Make sure to steep the tea long enough for a rich flavor but not so long that it becomes bitter.
- Lemon slices add a nice fresh touch but are optional.
- For a stronger tea, use 6 tea bags; for a lighter taste, use 4.
- Store leftover sweet tea in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for optimal freshness.
