Perfect Sweet Tea – Refreshing home brewed sweet tea. Squeeze with lemon for perfect iced cold southern refreshment for those hot summer day. Sweet but not too sweet.
Sweet tea, it’s been a part of life for as long as I can remember. Growing up we always had sweet tea on hand and my mom had an amazing recipe. It’s changed very slightly over the years but it’s oh so delicious. I make the same recipe now for my family and we all love it. Especially on those hot summer days when you just want to chill with an icy glass of goodness, this is our go-to.
It’s so simple too that even my older kids can make for me if I’m busy. Just to note though. The flavor is at it’s absolute best if you allow it to sit after boiling. I usually like to let it sit for at least 2 hours. But I’ve also let it sit for up to 24 hours before adding it to the water and ice in the pitcher.
Do what works for you. And might add, try it both ways. Try it for the 2 hour version and then next week try it for 24. See if you notice a difference. The biggest difference I notice is making it immediately versus waiting a few hours. It’s always better to wait a bit.
This tea is well loved. I often get comments from friends about how much they love our sweet tea. People often want a 2nd glass or they want the recipe to make it on their own. So I just thought it would be awesome to share it with you. Give it a try and let me know how you enjoy it!
Til we meet and eat again,
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Perfect Sweet Tea
Ingredients
- 8 regular black tea bags
- 3/4 - 1 cup granulated sugar to your sweetness preference
- 2 large lemons
- water
- ice
Instructions
- Tie the strings of 8 tea bags together in a knot.
- In a small saucepan combine sugar and 2 cups of water over high heat. Bring to a boil. Add tea bags. Immediately turn off heat. Let sit and steep for about 2 hours.
- In a gallon pitcher add steeped tea. Wring out tea bags and add to the pitcher as well. Add 3 cups ice. Fill to gallon line with water. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- For individual glasses, add a slice of fresh lemon and pour over with iced tea. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
If you don't want to wait for the 2 hours just wait about 15 minutes until it's not boiling hot any longer. Add tea to a large pitcher with extra ice to help cool it down quicker. Total ice and water should not exceed 1 gallon or it will have a watered out taste.
You may also like:
Peach Green Iced Tea
Raspberry Lemonade Iced Tea
Sunshine Iced Tea
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This sweet tea is so easy to make and looks so refreshing! Love the lemon 🙂
I made this tonight and absolutely love it! Usually sweet tea recipes are sticky sweet, this one is just right. Thank you!
This looks delicious. I’m going to make it tonight. We’re having a chicken ceasar gyros out on our porch with our friends, and this would make an excellent beverage to accompany it.
Do you leave the tea bags in the pitcher? Also is it 8 small tea bags?
I do not. I squeeze the tea bags thoroughly and discard them. 8 regular size tea bags. Enjoy.
Does this have to be black tea bags?
Doesn’t have to be but that’s what I use.