Sweet Southern Iced Tea

May 5, 2014

sweet southern icced tea

Sweet Southern Iced Tea is the standard beverage you will find on every single dinner table in the South. Spring, Summer, Fall and yes, Winter, it matters not. We serve tea. Iced tea. Sweet Iced tea.  No one can respectably call herself a southern cook,  if she can’t make Sweet Southern Iced Tea. This tradition has been passed down in every southern kitchen I know.

But alas, I’ve noticed of late, more and more people are opting for water with their meals.  I contend that this is only because people haven’t learned the fine art of making a pitcher of Sweet Southern Iced Tea.  I intend to remedy this at once,  with this post.

Even though you may have not been raised in the South,  (we cannot be faulted for where we have been born) you can still redeem the situation and serve the best iced tea on the planet. No, I’m not exaggerating. My husband says it’s so. So in the sad event that your mother was busy with other important things,  like making a living and did not take time to pass along the the fine art of tea making or  if you are a newly wed who needs to know… This post is for you.  Here’s my Sweet Southern Iced Tea recipe.

how to make sweet tea

This recipe will make 2 quarts of tea, but it can easily be doubled to make a gallon. Always begin with cold water. Fill a pot with 6 cups of COLD water. Add 4 single teabags, or 2 family size teabags. I use only Lipton tea.  (Now, for my ice tea secret. shhhhhhhh ) Add 1-2 single bags of Earl Grey Tea. It makes all the difference.

I like to shop for Earl Grey at TJMaxx because you can find gourmet teas without paying gourmet prices. Trust me, the tea will taste so fresh and delightful by adding the Earl Grey.

Bring the water, with the teabags in the pot, just barely to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to steep. That means just let the tea sit in the hot water for about 15-20 mins.

Take your 2 quart pitcher and place about 1 cup of cold water in the pitcher. You must do this,  because if  you don’t, the hot liquid will crack the pitcher.

Obviously, if your pitcher isn’t glass you don’t have to do this. But, I am of the opinion that tea taste best from a glass pitcher, if not crystal.

To the cup of water add 2/3 cup of sugar.  If for some reason, diabetes and such, you need unsweetened tea, simply leave out the sugar and continue with the directions. It will be delicious unsweetened.  Now add the steeped tea to the pitcher. Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Add additional water to the pot with teabags and then pour into the pitcher until you have enough to fill the pitcher to the top.  Stir.

Sweet Southern t

This is how to make Sweet Southern Iced Tea. Serve over ice. Garnish with mint leaves or lemon wedge, if you like. Enjoy.

Now that you know how and can make tea, you may hold the title of Southern Cook, regardless of where your birth certificate says you were born.  Please pass the tea.

Sweet Southern Tea

Ingredients

  • 6 cups COLD water
  • 4 single serving Lipton Tea Bags or 2 family size tea bags
  • 1 Earl Grey single tea bag
  • 2/3 cups granulated sugar
  • additional water

Instructions

  1. Instructions
  2. Southern Iced Tea: Always begin with cold water. Fill a pot with 6 cups of cold water. Add 4 single tea bags, or 2 family size tea bags. I use only Lipton tea.
  3. (Now, for my ice tea secret. shhhhhhhh ) Add 1 or 2 single bags of Earl Grey Tea. It makes all the difference.
  4. Trust me, the tea will taste so fresh and delightful by adding the Earl Grey.
  5. Bring the water, with the tea bags in the pot, to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to steep. That means just let the tea sit in the hot water for about 15-20 mins.
  6. This will make 2 quarts of tea. Take your 2 quart pitcher and place about 1 cup of cold water in the pitcher. You must do this, because if you don't, the hot tea will crack the pitcher. To the cup of water add 2/3 cup of sugar. Stir. Now add the steeped tea to the pitcher. Add additional water to the pot with tea bags until you have enough to fill the pitcher to the top. Add to fill pitcher. Stir.
  7. Pour over ice to serve. Garnish with mint leaves or lemon wedges. Enjoy!
https://joytomyheart.com/sweet-southern-iced-tea/

 

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13 Comments

  • Debbie

    Loved this post! We had this every Sunday when I was a child. FYI: I tried to sign up to receive your blog posts by mail but received a message that said that feature on your blog is disabled. 🙁

    May 5, 2014 at 8:57 am Reply
    • admin

      Thanks for telling me Debbie….that is a problem! Will see about it… We love our tea…..hope you get to make some soon….let me know how it is…thanks for commenting.

      May 5, 2014 at 10:07 am Reply
  • Madaline

    Love this post! I’m a Virginia girl and have been loving my sweet tea since I was little! Now that I’m living in Rome I’m trying to convince people here this is a perfect “every time” beverage!
    Found you via Thursday Favorite Things.

    May 8, 2014 at 12:46 am Reply
    • admin

      Madaline, You are living every girl’s dream! Rome, what a blessing! Yes, we Southerners can’t do without our sweet iced tea! Let me know how your tea drinking campaign goes!!! What brought you to Rome? Thanks for stopping by!!!!

      May 8, 2014 at 7:22 am Reply
  • Pam@over50feeling40

    In my town, San Antonio, we drink mass quantities of sweet tea!! Your version sounds great…thanks for sharing on the Thursday Blog Hop!!

    May 8, 2014 at 11:44 am Reply
    • admin

      Thanks Pam, I make it by the gallons, so I can have a break from making it every day..…try it with a single bag of earl grey…it makes it wonderful! Glad you stopped by!

      May 8, 2014 at 1:54 pm Reply
  • Tasty Tuesdays 60 plus Features - A Dish of Daily Life

    […] Sweet Southern Iced Tea caught my eye…I’m thinking this would be great by the pool this summer on a hot […]

    May 13, 2014 at 3:02 am Reply
    • admin

      I have no idea how I missed that I was featured here!!! Such a wonderful surprise! How very sweet…..….Thank you, thank you!!!!

      July 9, 2014 at 11:34 am Reply
  • Joy To My Heart - The SITS Girls

    […] Sweet Southern Iced Tea […]

    December 16, 2014 at 6:00 am Reply
  • Kirsten

    I have never made sweet tea, but I am going to try this the next time we have warm weather! Hope you are enjoying your SITS day!

    December 16, 2014 at 2:02 pm Reply
    • admin

      Oh do, it’s very easy….let me know how it turns out..thanks you for commenting and stopping by…

      December 16, 2014 at 6:12 pm Reply
  • Monique

    This sounds absolutely delicious! I will definitely have to give this a try! Thanks so much for sharing, you have for sure schooled me on how to make a good cup of iced tea 🙂 Pleasure to also meet you via SITS!

    December 16, 2014 at 6:21 pm Reply
    • admin

      Thanks Monique..nice to ‘meet’ you too! Thank you for stopping by!

      December 17, 2014 at 1:47 pm Reply

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