How to Make Southern Sweet Tea Perfectly

Sweet Tea.  There isn’t anything better on a hot summer, or spring, day than a nice big glass of sweet tea.   Being from the South, I’ve had more than my share of sweet tea over the years.  It’s something so simple, yet so many people mess it up.  Too weak, too strong, too sweet, not sweet enough, the wrong brand of tea…so many things can mess it up.   So I’m going to let you know how to do it right.

Great tea starts with a great teabag.  My favorite is Luzianne.  This tea bag is perfect for sweet tea.   I also prefer tea with mint in it.  While this ingredient is optional, it really does take your tea to a whole new level.   I just pick a little  stack from my garden then use that for my tea.  Fortunately, the mint I planted in a couple of random shady places last year is now spreading and growing like crazy.  So it can now officially support my mint habit nicely.  

Perfect Southern Sweet Tea.  

This recipe makes a gallon of southern sweet tea.

• • • Boil water in a separate container.  You can do this on the stove, in an electric kettle or in the microwave.  My favorite is my electric kettle.  
    • Put four small teabags, or two large, in a mason jar or large mug.  
    • After the water is boiling, pour it over the tea bags.
    • Let it sit for 5 minutes.  I don’t like any bitterness, so I won’t take it past this.  If you like super strong tea, you can take it longer, but be aware that it will get more bitter the longer you steep.  If you love bitter tea, then steep away.
    • After the steeping time is up, pull out the tea bags and throw away or compost the tea bags. 
    • After you have removed the bags, add one cup of sugar into the jar with the concentrated tea.  It depends on how sweet you like it, you might want to do a little less per cup.  I’d say 1/2 cup of sugar per gallon makes a great “half and half” or “half cut” tea.
    • Add 1/4 tsp of baking soda.  Sure this sounds weird but trust me.  This smooths out the tea and makes the flavors harmonize.  I can’t explain it, I just know that it works.  If you are skipping this step, you might want to consider steeping the tea for a little less time because this really brings the flavors together.
    • If you are adding mint, this is the best time to add it.  Crush and tear the mint and drop it into the hot tea.  Stir the sugar and mint well.

  

  • Let it sit for at least 10 minutes to be sure the sugar and mint flavor melds into the tea.  If you have longer, you should let it sit as long as possible.  
  • After the flavors have melded, pour the tea mixture into a gallon pitcher.  Then put plenty of ice into the pitcher, then fill the rest of the space with water.   By adding ice, you will make the tea cold much faster and you can serve immediately
  • Stir again then serve cold.