Louisiana Sweet Tea
Experience the refreshing charm of the South with this authentic Louisiana Sweet Tea recipe, a perfectly balanced blend of smooth black tea and just the right amount of sweetness. Key to its signature taste is a pinch of baking soda, which mellows the tea's natural bitterness for an irresistibly smooth finish. Brewed to perfection and sweetened with granulated sugar, this crowd-pleaser is chilled and served over ice for ultimate refreshment. Elevate your presentation with optional garnishes like zesty lemon slices and fragrant mint sprigs. Ready in under 20 minutes with simple pantry staples, this classic iced tea is your go-to beverage for sunny days, backyard gatherings, or a touch of Southern hospitality.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups Water
- 6 units Black tea bags
- 0.75 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.125 teaspoon Baking soda
- 4 cups Ice cubes
- 4 slices Lemon slices (optional)
- 4 sprigs Fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
In a large saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a gentle boil over medium heat.
Once boiling, remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the baking soda. This helps reduce any bitterness from the tea.
Add the black tea bags to the hot water and allow them to steep for 10-12 minutes.
While the tea is steeping, pour the granulated sugar into a large heatproof pitcher.
After the tea has steeped, carefully remove the tea bags without squeezing them (this prevents extra tannins from clouding the tea).
Pour the steeped tea over the granulated sugar in the pitcher, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves.
Add the remaining 6 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir well. Adjust sweetness to taste if needed.
Chill the sweet tea in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours or until fully cold.
To serve, fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled sweet tea over the ice.
Garnish each glass with a slice of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
593 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.4 g | 1% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 219 mg | 10% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 156.8 g | 57% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.4 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 152.0 g | ||
| Protein | 0.8 g | 2% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 127 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 0.8 mg | 4% | |
| Potassium | 88 mg | 2% | |
*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.
