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Sweet Tea

The hallmark Southern drink: strong black tea brewed hot and sweetened while still warm, then diluted with cold water and poured over ice. Crisp, sweet, and endlessly refreshing on a hot day. Plan ahead: chill at least 1 hour before serving.

15 minEasyServes 890 cal/serving

Southern AmericanNon-Alcoholic DrinkStovetopVeganHalal-friendlyGluten-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeNut-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeAlcohol-FreeNightshade-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

  • 4 black tea bags (such as Lipton family-size)
  • 4 cups boiling water (for brewing)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 6 cups cold water
  • 1 lemon (optional, for serving), sliced
  • as needed ice

Instructions

  1. 1

    Bring 4 cups boiling water (for brewing) to a full boil in a saucepan or kettle.

  2. 2

    Remove from heat and add 4 black tea bags (such as Lipton family-size). Steep for 5 minutes - no longer, or the tea will turn bitter.

  3. 3

    Remove and discard the tea bags. Do not squeeze the bags.

  4. 4

    Add 1 cup granulated sugar to the hot tea and stir until completely dissolved.

  5. 5

    Pour the sweetened tea concentrate into a large pitcher. Add 6 cups cold water and stir to combine. Taste and adjust sweetness or strength.

  6. 6

    Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour. Serve over ice with 1 sliced lemon (optional, for serving) if desired.

Questions

Can I halve or double Sweet Tea?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. To make a pitcher, multiply everything and stir over ice at the end.

Serve it with

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