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Home » BBQ Recipes » How to make Sweet Iced Tea

How to make Sweet Iced Tea

Published: Apr 9, 2012 · Modified: May 13, 2021 by Arlene Mobley · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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I'm not too snobby about many things but when it comes to a glass of sweet iced tea I've set my standards high and I have learned over the years how to make sweet iced tea perfectly.

What is a perfect pitcher of sweet iced tea

1. It’s got to be freshly brewed.
2. It’s got to be crystal clear. No cloudy iced tea for me!
3. It’s got to be sweet but not too sweet.

 

sweet iced tea, southern ice tea, how to make, tea, summer drinks
How to make perfect Sweet Iced Tea
 
I've learned over the years that if a glass of iced tea is cloudy it is not fresh. There are a couple of ways this can happen.
 
  1.      You brewed the tea and let it sit too long before making your pitcher of iced tea.
  2.        It’s been in the refrigerator a few days.
  3.        You brewed it, made it and then let it sit out and get warm. Keep your tea chilled!
 
There once was a time when sweet iced tea was only a southern thing. Now you can get it almost anywhere food is served.
 
I've been making sweet iced tea for a long time. At one time I made one gallon of sweet iced tea a day, every day before my husband came home from work.
 
It’s hot here in Florida and when he came home from work all he wanted to drink was a big glass of fresh sweet iced tea. He’d guzzle one or two glasses the minute he walked into the door.
 
How hard can making sweet iced tea be? You only have three ingredients; water, tea and sugar.
 

Making Sweet Iced Tea may seem pretty simple but the technique is what makes a crystal clear glass of sweet iced tea. Follow my instructions and I promise you a perfect pitcher of sweet iced tea each time.

This recipe makes a half a gallon of iced tea. You can double it and make an entire gallon. You probably should just go ahead and make a gallon. Nothing tastes better than a fresh glass of sweet iced tea on a hot summer afternoon.

 
 
how to make, sweet ice tea, summer, beverages, ice tea directions
Sweet iced tea

 

  • Preparing your tea while the tea is still hot is what gives you a crystal clear pitcher of iced tea. If you wait until the tea has cooled you will end up with a bitter and cloudy pitcher of tea.
  • It also allows the sugar granules to dissolve. I hate it when the sugar doesn't dissolve and sits on the bottom of my glass.
  • Chill completely before serving over ice so the warm tea does not melt the ice in the glass.
  • Do not add ice to the pitcher of sweet iced tea. It will water it down and lose much of the flavor
  • Garnish with a wedge of lemon, lime or a slice of orange.
  • Garnish with fresh mint or lemon verbena.
 sweet iced tea
 
How to make the best Sweet Iced Tea via flouronmyface.com

How to make Sweet Iced Tea

Arlene Mobley - Flour On My Face
How to make Southern sweet iced tea perfectly. Serve a glass of the best, brightest, clear, not cloudy iced tea you have ever tasted. Garnish with a wedge of lemon or lime and a sprig or two of fresh mint.
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 8 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, Southern
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 97 kcal

Ingredients  

  • 8 cups water divided
  • 6 tea bags Lipton Black Pekoe Tea
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • 1 whole lemon (lime and mint for garnish)
  • ice
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Instructions 

  • Add 4 cups of water to a medium size saucepan and bring to a roiling boil. Boil the tea bags for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the pot from the hot burner.
  • Steep tea for 10 minutes.
  • Measure sugar and add to pitcher
  • Pour the still hot tea over the sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Add the remaining four cups of water and pour it into the pot with the tea bags. Swirl the pot around a little bit to allow the tea bags to release that last bit of tea goodness from the tea bags. Pour the tea water into the pitcher.
  • Chill completely before serving and serve over ice.

Recipe Expert Tips

  • Chill a big pitcher of this sweet iced tea recipe before serving with a wedge of lemon and a sprig of fresh mint.

Nutrition

Serving: 1GlassCalories: 97kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 1gSodium: 1mgPotassium: 1mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Share a picture on Instagram and tag @flouronmyface2
 

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About Arlene Mobley

Arlene Mobley author of Flour On My Face-a Food & Lifestyle website helping busy families get dinner on the table by serving easy recipes every week.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cara ~ Vintage Style Gal

    July 23, 2023 at 2:24 pm

    I know sweet tea is a more southern drink, but northerners like it too! We enjoy making at home all through the summer. Thank you for sharing with Whimsy Home Wednesday.

    Reply
  2. Hester Adamson

    August 15, 2015 at 2:02 am

    5 stars
    I have drank sweet tea for as long as I can remember and I am 59 years old. I make my tea 2 gallons at a time. I pour the hot tea over the sugar and stir it until it is dissovled. Then I keep refilling the pot with water running over the tea bags and pouring it into the container. It gets all the tea flavor. Then put it into the frig to chill. If you don't drink all the tea in about 4 days it starts turning sour. Between my husband and myself we will drink all of it before then. We drink sweet ice tea all year long.

    Reply
  3. Donna

    April 20, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    Being a Georgia transplant, I have had to instruct quite a few people on the fine art of making "sweettea". It is imperative that you add the sugar in the last minute or two of cooking, you don't want the sugar just to melt, you want that chemical reaction with the sugar/heat/tea that makes a truly distinctive taste. You will see this chemical reaction happen, don't have the pot too full.

    Reply
  4. Lorraine Mazza

    January 07, 2015 at 11:13 am

    just double checking...only 4 cups of boiling water is added to the tea bags, the remainder of water (4 cups) is at room temperature and added to the already steeped tea bags.

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      January 07, 2015 at 5:22 pm

      Lorraine

      That is correct. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Mickey

    June 23, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    I'll make two batches and use my ice cube tray to fill with tea then use it for cubes in the drink. Thanks

    Reply
    • Arlene Mobley

      June 23, 2014 at 4:40 pm

      Mickey

      That is a great way to keep the ice from diluting your iced tea. If you like lemon in your tea you could even add a half slice to each ice cube cavity. The you won't need to use a lemon slice! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  6. Me Anders

    May 31, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    I love it! I feel your passion!! I grew up on this stuff.... delicious. And lately, Ive been craving tea, tea, tea...... sweet tea that is!

    Reply

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Arlene Mobley Food & Lifestyle Blogger


Hi, I'm Arlene Mobley the cook & photographer here at Flour On My Face. I have been cooking for my family for over 35 years. I love sharing recipes to help busy families get dinner on the table. Learn more here

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