Tennessee Fruit Tea
My fruit tea is a refreshing blend of Southern sweet tea, fresh oranges, lemons, and pineapple juice. Its roots started right here in Nashville, Tennessee, which is where my husband and I fell in love with it almost 4 years ago! Mine is sweetened with pure cane sugar and pure fruit juices for a wholesome twist. I hope you love this old Southern favorite as much as we do!
Ingredients
- 2 family-sized Luzianne tea bags (or 8 regular-sized bags, 4 regular = 1 family) (or any black tea)
- 6 cups water
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp pure cane sugar
- 3 medium-sized navel oranges (I use organic)
- 1/2 cup pure pineapple juice, no sugar added (like R.W. Knudsen)
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice (fresh or pure bottled)
Instructions
- Add 3 cups of water and the tea bags to a medium-sized pot. Warm on high heat, moving tea bags around occasionally, just until it starts making noise before it begins to boil. Take off heat immediately and set on a trivet or cooling rack.
- After pot is removed from heat, let tea bags steep (sit in the pot) for 5 minutes. Move them around occasionally. Then remove and discard bags, do not squeeze.
- Add baking soda and cane sugar to the pot. Stir until dissolved.
- Pour tea mixture into a pitcher and add the remaining 3 cups of water. Stir to combine, and set aside.
- Place a fine mesh strainer over the top of pitcher and squeeze oranges to add the juice. Remove strainer and stir to combine.
- Add pineapple juice and lemon juice (squeeze fresh lemons over a strainer). Stir to combine.
- Refrigerate until chilled (preferably a couple of hours) or for best flavor, overnight. Stir before serving, separation is normal. When ready, pour over ice and enjoy!
Notes
You can double this recipe if desired.
Please see blog post for storage information and serving ideas.
Baking Soda Note: Baking soda in sweet tea is an older Southern tip to take out any bitterness in the tea
Tea 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.
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A Note From Molly – This recipe was developed and tested by me, NEVER AI (artificial intelligence). My recipes here on Plum Branch Home are created with purpose and cherished in our own home. What you see from Plum Branch Home is real. It’s made for a reason, tested, and loved!
Here at Plum Branch Home we’re serving God by loving our families one simple, wholesome, made from scratch recipe at a time!