Description
An authentic Southern sweet tea recipe that uses a hot sugar technique to create a perfectly balanced, smooth, and refreshing iced tea concentrate. This simple yet ritualistic drink captures the essence of Southern hospitality with just four main ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2/3 cup loose-leaf black tea (such as English Breakfast or Ceylon)
- 1 ½ cups granulated white sugar
- 10 cups water total (8 cups for brewing, 2 cups for ice)
- 2 cups ice
Instructions
- Bring 8 cups of filtered water to a rolling boil in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Remove the water from heat and immediately add the 1 ½ cups of granulated sugar. Stir vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved to create a syrup base.
- Add the 2/3 cup of loose-leaf black tea to the hot water and stir to ensure leaves are fully submerged.
- Cover the saucepan and let the tea steep for 15 minutes. Do not rush this step to ensure a strong flavor without bitterness.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large glass pitcher and pour the hot tea through it to remove the leaves. Gently press the leaves to extract flavor, but do not squeeze tightly.
- Let the tea cool to room temperature in the pitcher.
- Add the 2 cups of ice to the cooled tea to dilute the concentrate to the perfect drinking strength.
- Stir well to distribute sweetness evenly and serve immediately over fresh ice cubes.
Notes
Do not boil the tea leaves once added, as this releases tannins and causes bitterness. Always remove water from heat before adding tea. For best results, use filtered water and fine-grained sugar. The tea concentrate can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days before diluting with ice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 20
- Carbohydrates: 20
Keywords: Southern sweet tea, iced tea recipe, homemade sweet tea, summer drinks, tea concentrate, Southern hospitality, gluten-free beverage