Southern Sweet Tea From Scratch (better than restaurants)
If you're looking for some real Southern sweet tea look no further! This recipe has been near and dear to our hearts since the minute I developed it. It's something you can serve at supper, share with guests, and enjoy while relaxing!
Ingredients
- 3 Luzianne family-sized tea bags (or 12 regular-sized tea bags) (4 regular = 1 family)
- 1 cup pure cane sugar
- 8 cups water (divided into 2 parts of 4 cups)
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Add 4 cups of water and all 3 tea bags to a medium-sized pot. Bring to a boil, then immediately take off the heat. While the water is heating, occasionally move the tea bags around, up and down, gently.
- After you take the pot off the heat, let the bags seep for 5 minutes (again moving around occasionally, up and down), then remove them. Do not squeeze the bags.
- Add cane sugar and baking soda to the pot and stir until dissolved.
- Pour the concentrated tea mixture into a serving pitcher and add the remaining 4 cups of cold or room-temperature water.
- Stir to combine, and refrigerate until chilled or ready to serve.
- When serving, do it over ice and add a lemon or orange slice for garnish (it's best if enjoyed within the first 48 hours).
Video
Notes
**Please note Luzianne family-sized tea bags may be sized differently than other brands' family-sized tea bags. This difference can change the flavor of this recipe.