Refreshing Sweet Tea Recipe Perfect for Easy Classic Southern Treats
A simple, classic Southern sweet tea recipe that’s quick to make and perfect for refreshing summer drinks. This recipe balances sweetness and tea flavor for a smooth, crowd-pleasing beverage.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 black tea bags (Lipton recommended)
- 1 quart (4 cups) boiling water
- 3 quarts (12 cups) cold water
- 1 to 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (superfine preferred)
- Lemon slices (optional)
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Bring 1 quart (4 cups) of fresh water to a rolling boil, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the boiling water over 6 black tea bags in a large heatproof pitcher. Let steep for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove tea bags, gently squeezing them against the side of the pitcher to extract liquid, then discard.
- While the tea is still hot, add 1 to 1 ½ cups granulated sugar. Stir vigorously until completely dissolved, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add 3 quarts (12 cups) of cold water to the sweet tea concentrate and stir gently to mix.
- Refrigerate the tea for at least 1 hour before serving. For a quick chill, add ice cubes (note: ice will dilute the tea slightly).
- Serve over ice, garnished with lemon slices and fresh mint if desired.
Notes
Use superfine sugar for faster dissolving and smoother texture. Avoid oversteeping tea to prevent bitterness. Always chill tea before serving for best flavor. Adjust sugar to taste. Fresh filtered water improves flavor. For loose leaf tea, use about 3 tablespoons with a strainer and steep similarly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 fl oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 90110
- Sugar: 2430
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 2430
Keywords: sweet tea, southern sweet tea, classic sweet tea, iced tea, refreshing drink, summer beverage, black tea, easy sweet tea