Perfect Southern-Style Sweet Tea Recipe
A classic Southern sweet tea recipe that is quick, easy, and refreshing with a perfect balance of bold black tea, sweetness, and a hint of lemon.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 black tea bags (Lipton or Twinings recommended)
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) boiling water
- 1 to 1 ½ cups (200 to 300 grams) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice cubes
- Optional: fresh lemon slices or mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Bring 8 cups (1.9 liters) of fresh water to a rolling boil in your kettle or saucepan (about 5-7 minutes).
- Pour the boiling water over 6-8 black tea bags in a heatproof pitcher and steep for 10-15 minutes (12 minutes recommended).
- Remove tea bags, squeezing them against the side to extract flavor, then discard.
- While the tea is still hot, stir in 1 to 1 ½ cups (200-300 grams) granulated sugar until fully dissolved.
- Stir in ½ cup (120 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Let the tea cool to room temperature, then fill the pitcher with ice cubes and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Serve over ice in tall glasses, garnished with lemon slices or mint if desired.
Notes
Steep tea bags for about 12 minutes for a robust flavor without bitterness. Stir sugar into hot tea to dissolve fully. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Adjust sweetness after chilling by adding water or ice if needed. Store in refrigerator up to 3-4 days. For caffeine-free version, use rooibos tea bags.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8-ounce (240 ml) gla
- Calories: 90130
- Sugar: 2535
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 2535
Keywords: Southern sweet tea, sweet tea recipe, homemade sweet tea, black tea, refreshing drink, summer beverage