Absolutely the Best Southern Sweet Tea
Quench your thirst with *Absolutely the Best Southern Sweet Tea,* a timeless classic that's as refreshing as it is delicious. This authentic recipe combines the bold essence of black tea with just the right sweetness, thanks to its perfect balance of granulated sugar and a secret touch of baking soda to eliminate any bitterness. With a quick steeping process and simple ingredients, this easy sweet tea recipe comes together in just 15 minutes, making it ideal for gatherings, summer picnics, or everyday indulgence. Served over ice and optionally garnished with fresh lemon wedges and mint, it's the ultimate Southern beverage that’s cool, crisp, and irresistibly smooth. Perfectly sweet, endlessly satisfying, and completely customizable, this is your go-to recipe for mastering the art of Southern-style sweet tea.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 6 pieces tea bags (black tea)
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- 0.25 teaspoons baking soda
- 4 cups ice cubes
- 1 piece lemon wedges (optional, for garnish)
- 1 sprig fresh mint (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
Once the water comes to a rolling boil, remove it from the heat and immediately add the tea bags.
Sprinkle the baking soda over the tea bags. This step helps to reduce any bitterness and ensures a smooth tea flavor.
Cover the saucepan and let the tea steep for 10 minutes.
After steeping, carefully remove the tea bags, making sure not to squeeze them as this can release bitterness.
Pour the tea concentrate into a large pitcher.
Add the granulated sugar to the hot tea concentrate and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Add 4 cups of cold water to the pitcher and mix well.
Fill serving glasses with ice cubes and pour the sweet tea over the ice.
Garnish with lemon wedges and fresh mint, if desired, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1147 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 373 mg | 16% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 301.4 g | 110% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.2 g | 1% | |
| Total Sugars | 300.4 g | ||
| Protein | 0.2 g | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 118 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 0.1 mg | 1% | |
| Potassium | 23 mg | 0% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
