Sweet Tea

 

When I was a child, we had a housekeeper who taught me two very important things - how to store butter at room temperature and how to make sweetened iced tea. I am grateful for both lessons, and with summer fast approaching, I thought I'd share her recipe with you. It is detailed, but if you follow the instructions exactly, I can promise that you'll have excellent tea every time.

Southern Sweet Tea

 

10 regular size Lipton tea bags 
8 cups water
¾ cup sugar (see note below)

Place 2 cups water in a medium saucepan with the sugar; bring just to a rolling boil.  Stir to dissolve sugar; turn off the heat.  Place the tea bags in the pot of hot water and steep for exactly 4½ minutes.  Remove bags and place the tea concentrate in a glass or metal pitcher. Add 6 cups room temperature water (which keeps tea from getting cloudy) and stir to combine, if necessary. (I like to make this early in the day and let it refrigerate for a few hours before serving.)  Serve over ice.

Note: The original recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar, but years of being away from the South changed my palate a bit, and I find 1 cup just a tad too sweet.  You may feel differently.

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Comments

[Terri]

I grew up in the South and never liked sweet tea. But now, after living in the Midwest for several years, I love it! My mouth is watering now... I may have to make some soon!

[Nancy Thomas]

I'm a southern woman who grew up on sweet tea. When my son came home from the Navy for the first time, the one thing he wanted first was a glass of my sweet tea. Like you though I have learned to back off the sugar amount. Mainly due to health/weight issues but I've also found my taste buds have changed and I really like it with less sugar. Great post!

[colleen]

I am a southern girl who LOVES sweet tea! Thanks for sharing it with the "rest of the world" :)