Sweet Iced Tea
Quench your thirst with the ultimate Southern classic—Sweet Iced Tea. This refreshing beverage combines the bold flavor of black tea and the perfect touch of sweetness, balanced with a hint of optional baking soda to mellow any bitterness. Made with just a handful of pantry staples and ready in under 15 minutes, this iced tea is simple yet flavorful. The recipe creates a concentrated sweet tea syrup that’s blended with chilled water for a perfectly smooth and invigorating drink. Serve over a generous helping of ice cubes and garnish with fresh lemon slices for a citrusy twist. Perfect for backyard barbecues, picnics, or lazy afternoons, this crowd-pleasing iced tea is an essential summer staple you'll make again and again.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups Water
- 4 pieces Black tea bags
- 0.75 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.125 teaspoon Baking soda (optional, for reducing bitterness)
- 4 cups Ice cubes
- 4 pieces Lemon slices (optional, for serving)
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
Once boiling, remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the baking soda (if using).
Add the black tea bags to the water, ensuring they are fully submerged. Cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
Remove the tea bags, pressing gently with a spoon to extract any remaining liquid, and discard them.
Stir in the granulated sugar until fully dissolved. This will create a concentrated sweet tea syrup.
Pour the tea syrup into a large pitcher. Add the remaining 6 cups of water and stir well to combine.
Fill glasses with ice cubes, then pour the sweet iced tea over the ice.
Garnish with lemon slices if desired, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
591 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% 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 | 156.4 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 | 123 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 0.4 mg | 2% | |
| Potassium | 80 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.
