Description
This Southern Sweet Tea recipe is a classic, refreshing beverage perfect for cooling down on hot summer days. Made with strong brewed tea, sweetened with granulated sugar, and optionally garnished with lemon slices or mint leaves, this iced tea provides a delightful balance of robust flavor and sweetness that is a staple in Southern hospitality.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 5 cups filtered water (to ensure pure flavor)
- 5 tea bags (Lipton or Luzianne recommended for robust iced tea taste)
Sweetener
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjustable up to 1 ½ cups)
Garnishes
- Lemon slices (optional, enhances aroma and presentation)
- Mint leaves (optional, enhances aroma and presentation)
Instructions
- Boil Water: Bring 5 cups of filtered water to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat to ensure a pure and clean tea flavor.
- Steep Tea: Once boiling, remove from heat and steep 5 tea bags in the hot water for 5 to 10 minutes depending on your preferred strength of tea.
- Sugar Dissolution: Carefully remove the tea bags and stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar until it completely dissolves, adjusting sweetness to your taste if desired.
- Cool Tea: Allow the sweetened tea to cool at room temperature, then place it in the refrigerator to chill thoroughly.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the cold tea over ice in tall glasses and garnish with fresh lemon slices or mint leaves for added aroma and a refreshing touch.
Notes
- Adjust sugar quantity to make the tea more or less sweet according to preference.
- Use filtered water to maintain the best taste by removing impurities found in tap water.
- Steeping time affects tea strength; steep longer for a bolder flavor.
- For a twist, try adding honey or a splash of lemon juice instead of sugar.
- The tea is best served chilled and consumed within 2-3 days for optimum freshness.
