Description
A classic Southern-style sweet tea recipe that is perfectly balanced with medium strength and sweetness. This refreshing iced tea combines brewed black tea, sugar, and cold water, served chilled with fresh lemon slices and ice, perfect for hot days.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 6 cups cold water
- 3 (0.25 ounce/7g) black tea bags
Sugar Syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Additional Ingredients
- 6 cups cold water
- Sliced fresh lemon, for serving
- Ice, for serving
Instructions
- Boil Water: Add the first 6 cups of cold water into a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil.
- Steep Tea: Turn off the burner and add the tea bags. Steep for 3 minutes, stirring gently a couple times. For stronger tea, steep an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute, but avoid over-steeping to prevent bitterness.
- Sweeten Tea: Remove the tea bags and gradually stir in the sugar until fully dissolved, adjusting sweetness as desired.
- Cool Tea: Remove the pan from the heat and allow the tea to cool for 20 minutes.
- Combine and Chill: Pour the brewed tea into a pitcher. Add the additional 6 cups of cold water and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve: Add ice and fresh lemon slices to the pitcher either immediately if serving within a couple of hours, or about one hour before serving for best flavor.
Notes
- Use high-quality black tea bags for the best flavor; brand and tea type affect taste.
- Adjust steeping time to control tea strength but avoid bitterness caused by tannins from over-steeping.
- Adjust sugar quantity to your taste preference for sweetness.
- Adding lemon and ice just before serving retains freshness and flavor.
- Tea can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 days for optimal freshness.
