Perks and Highlights of Perfect Sweet Tea
Dietary Info: Gluten-Free, Vegan (when using plant-based sweeteners), Low-Calorie (with adjustments) You can easily make swaps to accommodate most dietary needs without losing the soul-soothing goodness.
Key Flavor: Sweet, with an undercurrent of robust earthiness The hallmark of this tea is its balance between the sweetness and the strong, grounding essence of the tea leaves.
Skill Level: Easy Peasy Nope, you don’t need to be a kitchen wizard for this. If you can boil water, you’re pretty much there.
Special Perks:
- Hydration Station: Not only is it a sweet treat, but it’s also a delightful way to stay hydrated, especially during those warm summer months.
- Versatility is Key: Serve it ice cold for a classic summer refreshment, or warm with a slice of lemon on a cool evening. This sweet tea is an all-weather friend.
- Customizable Sweetness: You’re in control of the sweetness. Whether you’re a “just a hint” or a “super sweet” kind of person, you can adjust to find your perfect balance.
- Perfect for a Crowd: Making a big batch is no sweat, so it’s ideal for family gatherings or any old Tuesday afternoon.
- Pairs with Practically Anything: This isn’t just a beverage; it’s an accompaniment. From barbecue to brunch, sweet tea is the perfect companion to just about any meal.
This isn’t just a drink; it’s tradition in a glass. So, go ahead, pour yourself some southern hospitality with the best sweet tea recipe you’ll ever find!
The History of Sweet Tea
Sweet Tea is commonly known as brewed tea that has been sweetened with sugar, then served ice cold in a refreshing manner.
Sweetened tea began as an item of southern luxury due to the expensive nature of its basic ingredients: tea, ice, and sugar. Ice was the most valued of the ingredients since it had to be shipped from afar at a time when getting your hands on cool drinking water was already a stretch. The South being as hot as it is, iced sweet tea slowly but surely became the refreshing drink of choice.
The appeal is pretty clear: ice cold tea with heaps of sugar to cut that tea tartness. Most Southerners would like you to believe that there is a real science to making this beverage but I think that’s just a bunch of hoopla that has been brainwashing folks for years.
The reality is that it’s quite simple to make a good ole fashioned Homemade Sweet Tea Recipe. I almost didn’t have a real recipe to share in this post. In fact, the recipe below is more of a guideline than a set recipe to follow to the tee.
Does Sweet Tea have Caffeine in it?
Yes. On average, an 8 ounce serving of this drink will contain anywhere from 20-50 mg of caffeine. Caffeine content will depend on how strongly you brew your tea. The more teabags you use, or the longer you allow them to steep, the stronger the tea will be. Don’t sweat it too much though, the added ice will dilute the strength a bit.
How to Make Sweet Tea
When it comes to creating a Southern sweet tea recipe, you can pretty much follow your gut (and taste buds) through the process to create a rendition that will satisfy your thirst whenever necessary.
So really you only need like 3 (or 4) things to create this homemade drink:
- Water
- Tea bags
- Sugar
- If you want to get fancy, lemon.
That’s it. Why folks make this such a big deal is beyond me. And some ice, don’t forget how good iced tea can be.
We personally throw tea bags directly into boiling hot water and allow them to brew, releasing the essence of the tea. Once the color of the tea reaches a deep auburn, we remove the teabags and allow it to come to room temperature.
Then, I tuck the tea into the fridge where it’ll get nice and cold. Y’all I count the seconds until I can pour myself a tall glass over ice!
How Much Sugar is in Sweet Tea?
In regards to sugar content, it’s kind of subjective. I know folks who love their tea to taste as sweet as candy and then others that like it a bit on the bitter side. The sweetness will depend solely on your personal preference.
An average sweet tea recipe will contain approximately 25 grams of sugar per 16 ounce serving.
Tip: The safest way to approach this is by adding half of the sugar, allowing it to dissolve completely and then tasting and deciding how much more to add.
Is Sweetened Tea Good For You?
Southern sweet tea has one major benefit: It’s made with real, home-brewed black tea. Black tea is a great source of fluoride, which keeps your teeth strong, and a variety of antioxidants that protect your cells from damage.
However, this tea recipe does offer a heavy dose of sugar as well which, if not consumed in moderation, can counter those same benefits.
I’d recommend either fitting a sweetened tea into your diet as an occasional treat, reducing the amount of sugar, or using a healthy sugar substitute of your choice.
Lemon or Mint?
That’s more of a new aged thing to some. My big mama certainly would think so but I love adding them to my pitcher because of the additional flavor infused in the tea and how lovely it looks swirly around in my mason jar.
For entertaining you can add them to your pitcher or even add other fruits to make the colors pop! My Peach Sweet Tea is a great recipe to try!
What Tea Brand should I use for Homemade Sweet Tea?
Now for tea bags, the South is pretty loyal to Luzianne but Lipton makes good sweet tea too so grab one of those boxes and get busy.
When it is all said and done, making a Southern Sweet Tea Recipe is no sweat, believe me, and it is a very personal thing. Make it your own and enjoy a big glass for me, okay?
Other Recipe Ideas
You can make an Arnold Palmer with this Lemonade.
Take this sweet tea recipe and make my Sweet Tea Fried Chicken then serve along with mustard greens, mac and cheese, candied sweet potatoes and cornbread for the perfect meal.
Southern Sweet Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 cups water
- 5-6 tea bags depending on how strong you want your tea
- 2/3- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar depending on how sweet you want it
- Optional: lemon and mint
- Ice
Instructions
- Add water to a medium sized pot and boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, turn off heat and add tea bags. Steep for 10-25 minutes (depending on strength you prefer).
- Stir in sugar in increments until it completely dissolves into the hot tea.
- Remove tea bags from pot then pour tea into a large pitcher.
- Add enough water to fill the pitcher then add lemon wedges and mint (if you would like for garnish and flavor).
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Add ice to glasses and serve.
Emily says
Decided to go all in and make up some Arnold Palmers with this sweet tea recipe. Soooooo good! Thanks!
Caitlin says
This is the best sweet tea recipe! Love serving mine with lemon and mint too.
Kechi says
This looks very refreshing and pretty! Wondering if I can use green tea?
Henny Hall says
In the South–each person’s Iced Tea is the Best !! Usually the eldest has the BEST !!
For some extra touches..get an old fashioned ice tray from the Dollar General. Make tea as you normally make tea.
Fill your tray ( trays ) freeze and pop out into a big zip bag. Keep in freezer. Add to your tea glass–never will your tea dilute
on a hot day–or any day. You can also put a piece of lemon, a cherry, pour teaon top in ice tray and freeze.
This can also be done for Iced Coffee. fans. Make coffee cubes.
Susan says
We’ve been making iced tea this way forever (I’m from NJ so I guess maybe ours is”Northern Sweet Tea”)
Susanna says
We don’t seem to get iced tea much in the UK, but we got some hot weather this summer & your recipe for iced tea has been going down very nicely here . Thank you, l knew it was refreshing but l had no idea it was so easy to make
william dalton says
I live in Leesburg Florida and I always keep sweet tea in the fridge. IMO most restaurants make tea too sweet so I order half and half. My recipe is easy and sweet enough without being like syrup. I make a 1 gallon recipe. Fill a gallon jug with water. Next pour a quart of the water in a 2 qt pot then turn stove on to med high and add 1 gallon size tea bag along with 1 family size tea bag. Bring to boil then turn off stove and cover pot for 15 minutes. Next take off the pot cover and turn it upside down then put the used tea bags in the lid and mash out some tea and pour into the tea pot. With the lid still in hand put bags into trash. Next put 2/3 cup of sugar along with a scant 1/4 cup of splenda (just enough to save a few calories without making the tea taste weird). Stir in the sugars they melt much faster when the tea is hot. Put a funnel in the big jug and pour in the tea. Let the tea jug sit on the counter until it cools to room temp. 8oz serving = 38 cal
Stacey says
Forgot how much I enjoyed fresh brewed tea. Served it with a lemon slice. So refreshing!
Paula says
I have been making iced sweet tea this summer, using two English Breakfast tea bags steeped in a half-gallon Mason jar and sweetened with stevia. All my life, I have been drinking my iced tea unsweetened! This, however, is delicious…and so good for those who are cutting out sugar. Sometimes, I do add a little lemon or a few fresh mint leaves……….!
Marie Czarnecki says
When I drove long haul and delivering in the South I always had sweet when I stopped at a TRUCK STOP for my dinner, especially “RASPBERRY” OMG…IN HEAVEN.. My regular education was in the Medical Field though.
Mary says
I’m guessing the pitcher is 2 qts or is it larger? Looking forward to trying this.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Yes that should be good!