Sweet tea is an iconic southern staple. You’d be hard pressed to visit anyone in the south and not be offered an ice cold glass of Sweet Tea, especially in the summer when it’s blazing hot. There’s a secret ingredient you will want to add to your sweet tea that guarantees a refreshing flavorful glass of tea without any bitterness. Once you learn the secret to brewing up the perfect pitcher of Southern Sweet Tea, summer will never be the same again. Keep reading to find out how easy it is to make the best Southern Sweet Tea you’ll ever enjoy.
How To Make A Classic Southern Sweet Tea:
Start by making a simple syrup. Add one cup water and one cup sugar to a small pan.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.
Simmer until the sugar is completely dissolved and the liquid in the pan changes from cloudy to clear.
Remove pan from the heat and allow the simple syrup to cool slightly while you brew the tea.
Make the tea:
Place 10 cups water in a large pot and bring the water to a boil over high heat.
Once the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat and add the tea bags to the hot water. Use three family sized large tea bags, or 12 regular sized tea bags if you don’t have the larger ones on hand.
Allow the tea bags to steep in the hot water for 10 minutes. For a stronger tea, steep for 15 minutes. I split the difference and allow the tea to steep for 13 minutes, not too weak and not too strong.
Remove the tea bags from the pot and discard them.
The next ingredient may seem like an odd addition, but a nurse I worked with that grew up in the south swore that it made all the difference. She told me that any good southerner worth their salt adds it to their sweet tea, and that’s baking soda. Yes you read that right…baking soda. Adding just a tiny little pinch enhances the flavor of the tea and neutralizes any bitterness.
Add just a pinch of baking soda to the tea and stir to combine.
Finally, pour the simple syrup into the brewed tea.
Stir to combine and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
Transfer the sweet tea to a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Serve sweet tea over ice and garnish with lemon slices or sprigs of fresh mint.
Have you got a hankering for an Arnold Palmer? After you brew up a pitcher of Sweet Tea, go grab some lemons and whip up a pitcher of Grandma Marie’s Famous Homemade Lemonade. It’s not too tart and it’s not too sweet…it’s just right! Mix with some of your homemade Sweet Tea for the most delicious Arnold Palmer you’ve ever enjoyed.
Whether you enjoy a cold glass of sweet tea all on its own or add it to some freshly squeezed lemonade, you’ll be reaching for a glass of this sweet tea all summer long. It’s a delicious way to quench your summertime thirst. There’s a reason this beverage has been a southern staple for decades…it’s absolutely delicious!
Southern Sweet Tea
Equipment
- 11 cup pitcher
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 11 cups water
- 3 large family sized black tea bags, or 12 regular sized black tea bags
- pinch baking soda
- lemon slices, for garnish
- fresh mint, for garnish
Instructions
Make simple syrup:
- Add one cup water and one cup sugar to a small pan.
- Bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Bring to a boil and simmer until sugar is completely dissolved and liquid changes from cloudy to clear.
- Remove from heat and allow simple syrup to cool slightly while you brew the tea.
Make the tea:
- Place 10 cups water in a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once water comes to a boil, turn off heat and add tea bags to the hot water.
- Allow tea bags to steep for 10 minutes.
- Remove tea bags and discard them.
- Add a pinch of baking soda to the tea and stir to combine.
- Pour simple syrup into the brewed tea.
- Stir to combine and allow tea to cool to room temperature.
- Transfer sweet tea to a pitcher and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve sweet tea over ice and garnish with lemon slices or sprigs of fresh mint.
Did You Make This?
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