Smooth Sweet Tea
Quench your thirst with this Smooth Sweet Tea, a classic Southern staple that's irresistibly refreshing and delightfully easy to make. This recipe uses a secret ingredient—just a pinch of baking soda—to eliminate any bitterness and create the smoothest, most balanced brew. Sweetened to perfection with granulated sugar, this iced tea is cooled with plenty of ice and can be elegantly garnished with zesty lemon slices or fresh mint leaves for an extra touch of flavor and charm. Ready in under 30 minutes, this six-serving recipe is ideal for lazy summer afternoons, backyard gatherings, or a simple treat to enjoy any time of year. Experience the timeless taste of homemade sweet tea with this foolproof recipe that’s destined to become a favorite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups Water
- 4 bags Tea bags (black tea) or loose black tea
- 0.75 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.125 teaspoon Baking soda
- 2 cups Ice cubes
- 4 slices Lemon slices (optional, for serving)
- 8 leaves Fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Bring 8 cups of water to a gentle boil in a medium-sized pot.
Once the water is boiling, turn off the heat and carefully add 4 black tea bags (or the equivalent amount of loose black tea in a tea infuser). Let the tea steep for 5-7 minutes.
While the tea is steeping, add 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda to a heatproof pitcher. This helps smooth out any bitterness in the tea.
Remove the tea bags (or infuser) from the pot and discard them. Immediately pour the hot tea into the pitcher over the baking soda.
Stir in 3/4 cup of granulated sugar while the tea is still warm, ensuring the sugar dissolves completely.
Allow the sweet tea to cool to room temperature for about 20 minutes.
Once cooled, add 2 cups of ice cubes to the pitcher to chill the tea further. Stir gently to combine.
Serve the sweet tea over ice in individual glasses. Garnish with lemon slices or fresh mint leaves, 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 | 220 mg | 10% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 156.8 g | 57% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.6 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 152.0 g | ||
| Protein | 1.0 g | 2% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 129 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 0.6 mg | 3% | |
| Potassium | 92 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.
