Secret to the Best Southern Sweet Tea Recipe
Sweet tea is a hallmark of Southern hospitality, and everyone seems to have their own “perfect” version. While we don’t live in the south, we still enjoy this delicious summertime beverage that my husband’s uncle enjoyed all the time. When he came to visit many decades ago, he always introduced us to a new Southern staple.
Servings: 16 Servings, 1 gallon
Calories: 48kcal
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Kitchen Essentials
Ingredients
- 4 Family Size Black Tea Bags or 12 regular tea bags
- 1½ to 2 Cups Granulated Sugar adjust the amount of sugar to your personal taste
- ⅛ Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 16 Cups Water divided (4 cups boiling water + 12 cups cold water)
- Ice cubes lemon slices, and mint leaves for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Boil the water. In a medium saucepan or kettle, bring 4 cups of boiling water to a boil.16 Cups Water
- Steep the tea. Remove from heat, add the tea bags and sprinkle in the baking soda. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes to make a strong iced tea concentrate.4 Family Size Black Tea Bags, ⅛ Teaspoon Baking Soda
- Sweeten it. Remove the tea bags and pour the hot concentrate into a large pitcher. Stir in the sugar until fully dissolved, creating a rich sweet tea syrup.1½ to 2 Cups Granulated Sugar
- Add cold water. Stir in the remaining cold water.
- Chill and serve. Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold. Serve over ice with a slice of lemon and fresh mint leaves if desired.Ice cubes
Your Own Private Notes
Nutrition
Calories: 48kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 0.3mg | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.01mg