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overhead of sweet tea in glass with lemon slices
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Southern Style Sweet Tea

This recipe for Sweet Tea is quick, easy, and refreshing. You can easily adjust the quantities for a small or big group. Perfect on a hot day!
Prep Time5 minutes
Rest and Chill2 hours 5 minutes
Total Time2 hours 10 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: iced tea recipe, sweet tea recipe
Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 10 cups cold filtered water , divided
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 family-sized tea bags (or 9 regular)
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • juice of 2 fresh lemons , optional
  • Sliced lemons , of serving

Instructions

  • Bring 2 cups of the water to a boil in a non-reactive teapot or saucepan; remove from the heat.
  • Add in the baking soda.
  • Drop in the tea bags; let steep for 5-7 minutes (depending how strong you want the flavor.)
  • Carefully remove tea bags and discard (do not squeeze or press on them.)
  • Add sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
  • Pour into a large heat-proof pitcher/jug.
  • Add in the remaining 8 cups of cold water and lemon juice.
  • Refrigerate until ice cold (a few hours.)
  • Fill a glass with ice and pour in the tea. Garnish with lemon slices, if desired, and enjoy!

Notes

For recipe tips and variations, please refer to the full article.

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Sodium: 26mg | Sugar: 30g | Calcium: 7mg