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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

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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.

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Questions

How many calories are in Sweet Tea?

One serving (the recipe makes 8) is about 90 calories, with 0 g protein, 22 g carbohydrate and 0 g fat, plus 10 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Can I batch Sweet Tea for a group?

Yes. As written it serves 8. Halved, the tea bags drops from 4 to 2; doubled, it is 8. Every line in this entry carries its half and double quantity, 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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