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Pitcher of sweet tea with ice and lemon slices, beside mason jar glasses garnished with lemon and mint.

Classic Southern Sweet Tea

Susan Ensley
Our tried-and-true Classic Southern Sweet Tea is the perfect balance of deep flavor and refreshing sweetness.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course 4th of July, Brunch, Drinks, Easter, Game Day, Memorial Day, Mother's Day
Cuisine American, Southern
Servings 8
Calories 96 kcal

Equipment

  • Small Sauce Pan
  • Silicone Spatula
  • 8-cup Heatproof Measuring cup
  • Kettle
  • 4-cup measuring cup
  • 2-quart sealable container

Ingredients
  

  • 1 c Sugar
  • 5 c Bottled Water divided
  • 3 Family Size Tea Bags1
  • ⅛ teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 4 c Reddy Ice

Instructions
 

  • In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, just until the sugar is completely dissolved, this should take 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
  • Place the tea bags and baking soda in a heatproof 8-cup measuring cup. Bring 1 quart of water just to a rolling boil in a saucepan or kettle. Immediately pour the boiling water over the tea bags, ensuring they are completely submerged. Cover and let steep for 7 minutes. Remove the tea bags gently without squeezing them, and discard them.
  • Fill a 4-cup measuring cup to the top with ice. Add to the warm tea and stir until the ice completely melts. This should take about five minutes. Pour in prepared simple syrup and stir well to combine.
  • Carefully transfer the Classic Southern Sweet Tea to a 2-quart sealable container and refrigerate. Take care when pouring the tea into the container, as there will likely be tea grounds sediment at the bottom of the measuring cup that you should avoid transferring.
  • When ready to serve, pour over ice and garnish with a few lemon slices and a spring of mint.
  • Yield 8 servings

Tips/Notes

  1. Or you can substitute 12 regular size.

Nutrition

Calories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 25gFat: 0.1gSodium: 31mgPotassium: 1mgSugar: 25gCalcium: 8mgIron: 0.01mg
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