Perfect Sweet Tea Secret of the South
Discover the timeless charm of the South with this recipe for Perfect Sweet Tea, the ultimate refresher for any sunny day. This classic beverage is crafted with just a handful of pantry staples—smooth black tea, perfectly dissolved granulated sugar, and a touch of baking soda for unparalleled silkiness. With a simple steeping technique that preserves flavor while reducing bitterness, this sweet tea is a breeze to prepare in under 15 minutes. Serve it generously over ice and elevate it with fresh lemon slices for a zesty twist. Whether you're hosting a summer gathering or simply craving an authentic Southern thirst-quencher, this sweet tea embodies hospitality in every pour. Your search for the secret to perfect sweet tea ends here!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 6 bags black tea bags
- 1 cups granulated sugar
- 0.125 teaspoons baking soda (optional, for smoothness)
- 4 cups ice
- 4 slices lemon slices (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
In a medium-sized saucepan, bring 2 cups of the water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.
Once the water reaches a boil, remove it from heat and add the black tea bags. If desired, sprinkle in the baking soda to help smooth out any bitter notes in the tea.
Let the tea bags steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on your preferred tea strength.
While the tea is steeping, pour the granulated sugar into a heatproof, 2-quart pitcher.
Carefully remove the tea bags from the saucepan, gently pressing them against the side of the pan to extract any remaining tea. Discard the bags.
Slowly pour the hot tea concentrate from the saucepan into the pitcher with the sugar, stirring continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Add the remaining 6 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir. Adjust sweetness, if desired, by adding more sugar or water.
Fill glasses with ice and pour the sweet tea over the ice. Garnish with a lemon slice, if desired, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
806 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 238 mg | 10% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 202.0 g | 73% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.4 g | 1% | |
| Total Sugars | 200.8 g | ||
| Protein | 0.2 g | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 196 mg | 15% | |
| Iron | 0.0 mg | 0% | |
| Potassium | 20 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.
