Description
A precise, restaurant-quality Southern sweet tea recipe using a simple syrup method to ensure a silky texture and balanced flavor without bitterness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 quarts (1.4 liters) filtered water (for steeping)
- 8–10 black tea bags (high quality, e.g., Lipton or Twinings)
- 1.5 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar
- 1.5 cups (1.4 liters) water (for simple syrup)
- Ice cubes
- Lemon slices (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Pour 1.5 quarts of filtered water into a large heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a rolling boil.
- Turn off the heat and let the water sit for 30 seconds to cool to approximately 200°F (93°C).
- Add the tea bags to the hot water and gently press them down to ensure they are fully submerged.
- Steep the tea for exactly 5-7 minutes. Do not exceed 7 minutes to avoid bitterness.
- Remove the tea bags and gently squeeze them against the side of the pot to extract liquid, then discard.
- In a small saucepan, combine 1.5 cups of sugar with 1.5 cups of water. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved (3-5 minutes).
- Pour the hot tea concentrate into a large heat-proof glass pitcher.
- Stir the simple syrup into the hot tea until fully combined.
- Let the mixture cool to room temperature (30-45 minutes) or refrigerate to speed up the process.
- Once cool, add enough cold water to fill the pitcher to the desired strength and stir well.
- Add a generous amount of ice cubes.
- Serve in tall glasses with fresh ice and lemon slices if desired.
Notes
Do not boil the tea bags as it extracts harsh tannins. Use filtered water for the cleanest taste. The tea concentrate can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Cloudiness may occur if cooled too quickly or made with hard water.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (approx. 8 o
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 31
- Carbohydrates: 31
Keywords: Southern sweet tea, iced tea recipe, simple syrup, summer drinks, homemade tea, classic sweet tea