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It was a scorcher here over the past few days, with the heat index up in the triple digits. The one thing that I wanted most to cool down with was a glass of sweet tea. Dolly Parton calls it “the house wine of the south.” My childhood experience confirms this sentiment. Unfortunately, the northern part of the United States has not caught on to this southern “wine”, so I make it for myself and my family because ordering a glass of tea and adding a packet of sugar isn’t the same. The sugar does not fully dissolve, and you’re left with a glass of dirty-tasting tea with barely a hint of sweetness, and the bottom of the glass packing a grainy, hallucinatory dose of pure cane chaser- bleh.
For my southern sweet tea, I need a good, strong tea flavored with a simple syrup. You can certainly squeeze in a wedge of lemon or orange, or even add a sprig of mint, but I like to keep it simple — just tea and sugar.
Southern Sweet Tea
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pitcher-size cold-brew tea bags, I use Lipton
- 2 quarts cold water
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup water
- Sliced lemons, optional
- Sliced oranges, optional
- Mint sprigs, optional
Instructions
- Place the tea bags in a large pitcher. (I like to wrap the strings around a wooden spoon and suspend it over the rim of the pitcher so I don't have to fish out the bags.)Add the 2 quarts of cold water and steep for 30 minutes to one hour, depending on how strong you like your tea.
- Meanwhile, combine the ½ cup of sugar and the ½ cup water in a small saucepan. Stirring occasionally, bring the mixture to a boil and cook until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat.
- Remove the tea bags, squeezing them by pressing against the wooden spoon. Add the sugar mixture and stir until combined. Pour over ice and garnish with slices of lemon, orange, or sprigs of fresh mint if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Perfect! I have a bunch of company coming next weekend:)
I'm cooling off just by looking at these photos. Love the addition of orange slices.
you can also put about 5 tea bags in your tea kettle full of water boil for 5 min. then in your pitcher put a cup or alittle more(depending on how sweet you want it) then pour your tea in the pitcher stir and add ice and water until you get to the top. THat is how us Alabamaians do it. With Lemon on the side of course.
Huchette Crew-
Glad to meet another sweet tea lover:)
Most of my family like the Iced Tea you can buy in bottles at the shop so I decided to give this a go.
It's a hit. I have a lemon/orange (I think) tree out the back so used that. I also just put the tea bags in the jug, popped it in the fridge and walked away until I was ready to deal with it again. Would be great to make overnightin summer for a cool drink in the morning.
Everybody who tasted it has enjoyed it, even me, and I don't normally like tea.
Nikki-
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Like you, I am not a big cold tea drinker, but this brew is up my alley. Lemon/orange tree–?! Maybe it's a meyer lemon? Lucky you! Thanks for the comment and letting me know:)