Classic Southern Sweet Tea
The gold standard of iced tea — bold black tea sweetened to perfection and served over ice. This is the recipe that started it all.
Instructions
- 1
Bring 500ml of water to a full rolling boil in a medium saucepan.
- 2
Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Steep for 4–5 minutes, then remove bags without squeezing.
- 3
While the tea is still hot, stir in the sugar until fully dissolved.
- 4
Pour the sweet tea concentrate into a 2-litre pitcher. Add the remaining 500ml of cold water and stir.
- 5
Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- 6
Serve over ice with lemon slices. Keeps refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Pro tip
For the clearest iced tea, let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating — rapid chilling causes cloudiness.
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