Description
Classic Southern Sweet Tea is a refreshing and sweet iced tea made by brewing strong black tea, sweetening it with sugar, and cooling it with cold water. This easy-to-make beverage is perfect for hot summer days and pairs well with traditional Southern meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 4 cups water (for boiling)
- 4-6 black tea bags (such as Lipton)
Sweetener
- 1 to 1½ cups granulated sugar
Additional Ingredients
- 4 cups cold filtered water
- Lemon slices (optional, for garnish)
- Ice cubes (for serving)
Instructions
- Boil the Water: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of fresh filtered water to a rolling boil.
- Steep the Tea: Remove the saucepan from heat. Add 4 to 6 black tea bags into the hot water and allow them to steep for 5 to 7 minutes, extracting a strong tea flavor.
- Add Sugar: While the tea is still warm, stir in 1 to 1½ cups of granulated sugar thoroughly until it is fully dissolved, creating a sweet tea concentrate.
- Dilute the Tea: Pour in 4 cups of cold filtered water to the sweetened tea to dilute it and help cool it down to a drinkable temperature.
- Chill the Tea: Transfer the tea mixture to a pitcher and refrigerate it for at least one hour, or until it is fully chilled.
- Serve: Serve the sweet tea over ice cubes in tall glasses. Garnish with lemon slices if desired for an extra citrusy touch.
Notes
- Adjust sugar levels according to personal taste for a less or more sweet tea.
- Steeping time affects the strength of the tea; longer steeping yields a stronger brew but can become bitter.
- Use filtered water for the best flavor.
- For a more authentic Southern taste, use black tea bags like Lipton or Luzianne.
- Chilling the tea thoroughly improves the refreshing quality of the drink.
