Southern Style Sweet Iced Tea
Savor the timeless charm of Southern hospitality with this Southern Style Sweet Iced Tea recipe—a perfectly refreshing blend of bold black tea, smooth sweetness, and a hint of citrus. Crafted with a clever touch of baking soda to eliminate any bitterness, this tea achieves a flawlessly smooth and mellow flavor. Each batch is sweetened to perfection with granulated sugar, then chilled with generous ice cubes for an authentic, thirst-quenching experience. Whether served plain or garnished with fresh lemon slices and mint leaves for added zing, this easy-to-make classic is the ultimate crowd-pleaser on hot summer days. With just 15 minutes of preparation, you’ll have six servings of this iconic beverage that delivers a taste of true Southern comfort. Perfect for barbecues, picnics, or lazy afternoons, this sweet iced tea is the refreshing staple your table deserves.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 6 black tea bags
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 0.125 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 cups ice cubes
- 1 for garnish lemon slices (optional)
- 1 for garnish fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a gentle boil over medium heat.
Once the water boils, remove it from the 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 steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on desired tea strength. Longer steeping will result in a stronger flavor.
While the tea is steeping, pour 1 cup of granulated sugar into a large heat-proof pitcher.
After steeping the tea, carefully remove and discard the tea bags, gently squeezing them to extract excess liquid. Be cautious not to tear the bags.
Pour the hot tea concentrate over the sugar in the pitcher, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir well to dilute the tea.
Fill serving glasses with ice cubes and pour the sweet tea over the ice.
Optionally, garnish each glass with a slice of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint for an added touch of freshness and flavor.
Serve immediately and enjoy this classic Southern refreshment!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
767 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.1 g | 0% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 216 mg | 9% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 201.8 g | 73% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.7 g | 2% | |
| Total Sugars | 200.5 g | ||
| Protein | 0.3 g | 1% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 120 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 0.2 mg | 1% | |
| Potassium | 24 mg | 1% | |
*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.
