Southern Sweet Tea

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5 from 4 votes

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings (8-ounce) servings

Calories 96kcal

Author Stacey Little

Ingredients

8 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar (more or less)
2 family size tea bags (I prefer Luzianne or Red Diamond)

Instructions

Fill a medium-sized pot or boiler with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Allow to cool for a few minutes. I like to get the water to about 180°F before adding my tea bags. Allow the tea to steep for about 3 to 5 minutes, but no longer.
Remove the tea bags, but do not squeeze them. Add 1 cup sugar (or less or more to your liking) while the tea is still warm. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
Add the tea to a heat safe glass or plastic pitcher. Add 6 cups room temperature water. Chill in the fridge or enjoy over ice.

Notes

- Use the right tea! Black Tea or Orange Pekoe Black Tea is best.
- Don't boil it! Boil the water, then allow it to cool to about 180°F before adding the tea bags to prevent bitter tea.
- Steep for no more than 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags. Don't squeeze them out.
- Add room temp water and don't chill too quickly or it might get cloudy.
- Store sweet tea in an airtight container in the refrigerator, ideally in glass or plastic, to keep it fresh and flavorful. Avoid metal containers and direct sunlight. For the best taste, enjoy your tea within 48 hours, but it can last up to 5 days in the fridge. Before serving, give it a good stir to redistribute the sugar.

Nutrition

* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste.

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