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Sweet Tea Southern Classic Recipe Easy Homemade Perfect for Summer

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A classic Southern sweet tea recipe that is flavorful, refreshing, and simple to make, perfect for hot summer days and gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 to 8 black tea bags (Lipton or Luzianne recommended)
  • 1 to 1 ½ cups granulated sugar (organic cane sugar preferred)
  • 4 cups boiling water (950 ml)
  • 4 cups cold water (950 ml)
  • Fresh lemon juice from 1 lemon (optional)
  • Ice cubes for serving

Instructions

  1. Boil 4 cups (950 ml) of water using a kettle or pot until a full rolling boil is reached (about 5 minutes).
  2. Place 6 to 8 black tea bags into a large heatproof pitcher.
  3. Pour the boiling water over the tea bags, ensuring they are fully submerged.
  4. Let the tea steep for 10 to 15 minutes (12 minutes recommended for balanced flavor).
  5. Remove the tea bags, gently squeezing them against the side of the pitcher to extract flavor without tearing.
  6. Stir in 1 to 1 ½ cups granulated sugar gradually while the tea is still hot until fully dissolved.
  7. Add 4 cups (950 ml) of cold water to dilute and cool the tea concentrate, stirring gently to combine.
  8. Refrigerate the tea for at least 1 hour to chill.
  9. Before serving, add fresh lemon juice from one lemon and stir (optional but recommended).
  10. Serve the sweet tea over plenty of ice cubes and enjoy immediately.

Notes

Steep tea bags for 12-15 minutes for robust flavor without bitterness. Always dissolve sugar in hot tea to avoid graininess. Use fresh lemon juice for best brightness. Chill tea for at least 1 hour before serving. Adjust sweetness and strength by varying sugar amount and steeping time. Store in refrigerator up to 5 days; consume within 2-3 days if lemon juice is added.

Nutrition

Keywords: sweet tea, southern sweet tea, homemade sweet tea, summer drink, iced tea, classic sweet tea, refreshing beverage

Find it online: https://pokirecipes.com/sweet-tea-southern-classic-recipe-easy-homemade-perfect-for-summer/