Description
A simple, authentic Southern sweet tea made with just three core ingredients: black tea, white sugar, and water. This hot-brew method ensures a crisp, tannic, and perfectly balanced flavor without bitterness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 gallon (3.8 liters) filtered water
- 12 black tea bags (Lipton yellow label recommended)
- 1 cup (200g) white granulated sugar
- Lemon slices (optional)
- Ice
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups (1 liter) of water to a boil in a large pot, then reduce heat to low.
- Add 12 tea bags to the hot water and steep for 15-20 minutes. Cover the pot to retain heat and aromas.
- While tea steeps, combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of the hot tea in a separate bowl. Stir vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved to create a simple syrup.
- Remove tea bags from the pot. Gently squeeze them against the side to extract flavor, then discard.
- Pour the concentrated tea into a large pitcher.
- Add the sugar syrup to the pitcher and stir well.
- Add the remaining 3 cups (720ml) of cold water to the pitcher and stir to combine. Add lemon slices if desired.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving over fresh ice.
Notes
Use filtered water to avoid chlorine taste. Do not over-steep (max 20 minutes) to prevent bitterness. Dissolving sugar in hot tea first prevents grit. For best flavor, chill thoroughly before serving. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 20
Keywords: Southern sweet tea, iced tea, summer drinks, easy recipes, homemade tea, Lipton tea, sugar syrup