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    Home » Recipes » Drink Recipes

    How to Make Sweet Tea-Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

    September 1, 2021 Updated: June 9, 2022 By Katie Crenshaw 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Here in the South, we love our sweet tea. Making it from scratch at home is very easy. Follow these easy steps and tips on how to make sweet tea perfect every time.
    Here in the South, we love our sweet tea. Making it from scratch at home is very easy. Follow these easy steps and tips on how to make sweet tea perfect every time.
    Here in the South, we love our sweet tea. Making it from scratch at home is very easy. Follow these easy steps and tips on how to make sweet tea perfect every time.
    Here in the South, we love our sweet tea. Making it from scratch at home is very easy. Follow these easy steps and tips on how to make sweet tea perfect every time. #sweettea #icedtea #howtomakesweettea
    Here in the South, we love our sweet tea. Making it from scratch at home is very easy. Follow these easy steps and tips on how to make sweet tea perfect every time. #sweettea #icedtea #howtomakesweettea

    Here in the South, we love our sweet tea.

    Making it from scratch at home is very easy.

    Follow these easy steps and tips on how to make sweet tea perfect every time.

    Two glasses of sweet tea on a metal tray with lemons to the side next to a red and white checkered cloth with a pitcher of tea set on top of it.

    This Southern sweet tea recipe is for a 2 quart pitcher.

    However, our family loves iced tea so much, we often make it in a gallon jug for family get-togethers.

    If we know we are all getting together, we save our recent milk jugs and wash them out to fill with sweet tea.

    Often times, we need at least 2 gallons for the size of our family gatherings.

    I have included directions to make a gallon sized sweet tea in the recipe card. Enjoy!

    Watch how to make

    Ingredients for Southern sweet tea: black tea, sugar, water, and baking soda

    Sweet tea ingredients

    You will need the following ingredients to make sweet tea:

    • family sized tea bags-black tea
    • sugar-white sugar
    • water-It is best to used filtered water.
    • baking soda -(Optional- see tips below)

    How to make Southern sweet tea

    Follow these simple steps on how to make sweet tea.

    1. Boil 2 cups of water. Remove boiling water from heat.
    2. Mix in your sugar and baking soda (optional, see tip) and stir until dissolved.
    3. Add your tea bags to the water. Steep 15 minutes for strong tea flavor or 10 minutes for a lighter tea flavor.
    4. Remove tea bags. Add tea to your pitcher and add the remaining water. Stir.
    5. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Tip:

    Some Southerners add a pinch of baking soda. This will take away any bitterness from the tannins that the black tea leaves may release. This is a trick I have learned over the past couple of years. You will not taste the baking soda. My other family members do not add it, so this is totally optional.

    pouring sweet to over ice into a glass

    Common mistakes

    Don't add ice to your ready made sweet tea in the pitcher. Your tea is perfectly brewed with the right ratio of water. If you add ice, it will melt and water down your tea. Instead, add ice to a glass and pour the tea over the ice. You will more than likely finish your sweet tea before the ice completely melts and you will not ruin the whole pitcher of tea.

    Never pinch the tea bags when removing them from steeping. This could release tannins and add a bitter taste.

    Never pour hot tea into a glass pitcher. It may make the pitcher shatter. Wait for the tea to cool if you are using a glass pitcher.

    Box of Luzianne Iced Tea with an arrow pointing to the words, "Specifically blended for Iced Tea."

    What types of tea should you use for iced tea?

    For traditional sweet tea, you will need black tea.

    Look for a box specifically made for "Iced Tea," such as Luzianne or Lipton.

    Family sized tea bags are best for serving quarts or gallon sized servings because you will use less of them.

    However, if you use the smaller sized tea bags, you will want to use 6 small sized bags for a 2 quart sized pitcher.

    Can you over boil tea?

    You can over boil tea. Adding the tea bags to boiling water can scorch the tea leaves and give a bitter taste.

    This is why it is important to remove the pot from heat before adding in your tea bags to steep.

    How long will it last?

    Sweet tea will last up to one week stored in the refrigerator. However after the first few days it will begin to loose some of its flavor.

    glass of iced tea with lemons to the side and a glass of tea in the background

    How to make unsweetened tea

    To make unsweetened tea, follow the exact same steps and measurements and omit the sugar.

    What to do with used tea bags

    Don't throw away your used tea bags! They can be used the following ways:

    • Rebrew the bags for watering your house plants or garden. The tea water protects from fungal infections and adds extra nutrients back into the soil.
    • Sprinkle the tea leaves on the base of your plants to fertile soil and repel pests like spiders and ants.
    • Add them to your compost pile.
    • Refrigerate leftover bags and place them over your eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles.

    Sugar substitutes

    True Southern tea use LOTS of SUGAR! This recipe is meant to be sweet like a true Southern sweet tea.

    You can reduce the sugar to ¾ cup, but it won't be quite as sweet as the classic Southern sweet tea....

    If you are watching your calories or carbs you can substitute with Monkfruit Classic Sweetener.

    It is natural and doesn't leave an after taste. The ratio is 1:1 with sugar.

    Another option is splenda granular. You would use the same ratio also.

    Two glasses of iced tea next to a pitcher of tea on a metal tray

    Ways to serve sweet tea

    Serve your sweet tea the following ways:

    • Serve plain, poured over ice.
    • Add fresh slices of lemon.
    • Add fresh mint.
    • Mix half sweet tea and half lemonade for an Arnold Palmer.
    • Mix 4 oz of bourbon with 12 oz sweet tea for a summer cocktail.

    Looking for some delicious Southern dishes to serve with your sweet tea? Try these:

    • Instant Pot Country Style Steak
    • Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
    • Southern Collard Greens
    • French Onion Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • Southern Sweet Potato Casserole
    • Chicken and Pastry
    • Salisbury Hamburger
    • Southern Slow Cooker Green Beans and Potatoes
    • Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
    • Southern Baked Spaghetti

    Please leave me a comment below if you make sweet tea and tell me how it turned out. I would love to hear back, and so would my readers.

    Also post your picture of your iced tea on Instagram or Facebook, and tag @aforkstale with #aforkstale hashtags! I will share with my followers! xoxo!

    iced sweet tea with a straw coming out of it

    How to Make Sweet Tea-Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

    Here in the South, we love our sweet tea. Making it from scratch at home is very easy. Follow these easy steps and tips on how to make sweet tea perfect every time.
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Save Recipe Saved! Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: Southern
    Prep Time: 0 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    steep: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 97kcal
    Author: Katie Crenshaw

    Ingredients

    • 2 family sized tea bags 6 small sized bags
    • 8 cups water
    • 1 cup sugar for less sweet, use ¾ cup
    • ⅛ teaspoon baking soda

    Instructions

    • Boil 2 cups of water.
    • Remove boiling water from heat.
    • Mix in your 1 cup sugar and ⅛ teaspoon baking soda (optional, see notes) and stir until dissolved.
    • Add 2 family sized tea bags to the water. Steep 15 minutes for strong tea flavor or 10 minutes for a lighter tea flavor.
    • Remove tea bags.
    • Add tea to your pitcher and add the remaining 6 cups of water. Stir.
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Video

    Notes

    This recipe is for 2 quarts.
    Notes:
    1. Some Southerners add a pinch of baking soda. This will take away any bitterness from the tannins that the black tea leaves may release. This is a trick I have learned over the past couple of years. You will not taste the baking soda. My other family members do not add it, so this is totally optional.
    2. To make a gallon sized tea, use 2 cups of water to boil, add 2 cups of sugar and ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda after it has been removed from heat, use 4 family sized tea bags when steeping, and add 14 cups of cold water at the end. 
    3. Never pinch the tea bags when removing them from steeping. This could release tannins and add a bitter taste.
    4. Never pour hot tea into a glass pitcher. It may make the pitcher shatter. Wait for the tea to cool if you are using a glass pitcher.
    5. For unsweetened tea, follow the same instructions omitting the sugar.

    Nutrition- Nutrition info is based on estimation only.

    Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 25g | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? I want to see it!Mention @aForksTale or tag #aForksTale!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Allyssa

      September 02, 2021 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      Thanks a bunch for this amazing recipe! Fam really loves it and it's super easy to make! Will surely have this again, well done!

    2. Sara LaFountain

      September 05, 2021 at 9:59 am

      5 stars
      My family loved this sweet tea! They have asked for a new batch every day this weekend. Easy to make.

    3. veenaazmanov

      February 17, 2022 at 1:07 am

      5 stars
      This is definitely so refreshing. So easy and best for Summers too.

    4. Uma Raghupathi

      February 17, 2022 at 8:11 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the walk-thru. This is such a simple drink to make, and yet I have never made it "perfect." Now I have! It is perfectly sweet and flavored.

    5. Mikayla

      February 18, 2022 at 3:52 am

      5 stars
      I love good southern sweet tea, I had not made it before myself. It came out fabulous. Definitely a treat that I will indulge in again.

    6. Jessica

      February 18, 2022 at 5:05 pm

      5 stars
      Unsurprisingly, this was super simple and delicious! I have no excuse for purchasing bottled sweet tea ever again. I will be keeping a pitcher in the fridge at all times from here on out.

    7. Amy Liu Dong

      February 19, 2022 at 7:00 am

      5 stars
      I love tea so much, and this one is so easy and looks delicious. I'll be making this for my sisters this weekend. I am sure they will love this!

    8. Aya

      February 20, 2022 at 5:42 pm

      5 stars
      This is so much better than store bought sweet tea! I loved it, and it was so easy to make!

    9. GUNJAN

      February 20, 2022 at 7:59 pm

      5 stars
      my husband likes to have some tea as a mid morning refreshment. This tea was so perfect for him. he loved it and i am making it frequently now.

    10. Moop Brown

      February 21, 2022 at 5:42 am

      5 stars
      Having grown up in the south, I've always been a big fan of sweet tea and love how refreshing and perfect for summer this drink seems.

    11. Cathleen

      February 21, 2022 at 7:53 am

      5 stars
      I love this recipe so much, and I am sure that I am going to love it all the more in the summer! Thanks for such a great drink recipe!

    12. Jere Cassidy

      February 22, 2022 at 3:27 am

      5 stars
      I am from a family of tea drinkers but we never add sugar to our tea. Definitely trying this sweet tea recipe for a little change.

    13. Freya

      June 05, 2022 at 8:16 am

      5 stars
      So different to English tea but a perfect refreshing drink for hot summer days!

    14. Ann

      June 05, 2022 at 8:08 pm

      5 stars
      This screams summer to me! I have always wanted to try making a true sweet tea. Think I will make it when we go camping!

    15. Veronika

      June 06, 2022 at 1:09 am

      5 stars
      What a perfect drink for the summer, I really enjoyed this sweet tea! I had no idea about the baking soda, that's such a cool trick! I'll keep in mind the pinching of the tea bags too for next time.

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    Katie Crenshaw-A Fork's Tale

    Hi, I'm Katie!

    Thanks for stopping in!! I am a foodie and I LOVE to eat. I am so excited to share my recipes and adventures with you! My recipes are simple and easy for the modern cook.

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