Sweet Tea
Transport yourself to the South with this classic homemade Sweet Tea recipe—a refreshing blend of rich black tea, perfectly sweetened with granulated sugar, and enhanced with a hint of baking soda to eliminate any bitterness. Ready in just 15 minutes of active prep and cook time, this crowd-pleaser is ideal for warm summer afternoons or casual gatherings. The secret lies in steeping the tea to perfection and harmonizing it with a generous amount of ice, creating a crisp and invigorating drink. Serve it chilled with a slice of lemon for a bright citrus twist, and enjoy a sip of tradition in every glass. Perfect for a relaxed moment on the porch or a backyard barbecue, this Sweet Tea is your go-to recipe for southern hospitality in a cup.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups Water
- 6 bags Black tea bags
- 0.75 cups Granulated sugar
- 0.125 teaspoons Baking soda
- 4 cups Ice cubes
- 1 whole Lemon slices (optional, for serving)
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil over high heat.
Once boiling, add the black tea bags to the pan and remove from heat.
Stir in the baking soda while the tea is still hot; this helps reduce bitterness.
Cover the pan and let the tea bags steep for 10 minutes.
Carefully remove and discard the tea bags, gently squeezing them to extract excess liquid, but avoid oversqueezing to prevent bitterness.
Pour the steeped tea into a large heatproof pitcher.
Add the granulated sugar to the hot tea and stir until completely dissolved.
Pour the remaining 6 cups of cold water into the pitcher and stir to combine.
Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until chilled.
To serve, fill glasses with ice cubes, pour the chilled sweet tea over the ice, and garnish with lemon slices if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
640 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 0.8 g | 1% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.0 g | 0% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 246 mg | 11% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 162.8 g | 59% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.8 g | 17% | |
| Total Sugars | 154.0 g | ||
| Protein | 1.6 g | 3% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 208 mg | 16% | |
| Iron | 0.8 mg | 4% | |
| Potassium | 160 mg | 3% | |
*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.
