This is the proper, complete guide on how to make Southern sweet tea, or unsweetened Southern tea. Keep reading to see how to make it correctly for the proper strength, sweetness, and smoothness. This darn good tea is truly speedy, easy, and tasty. Also, it’s shown in our Beverages, Fast Food, Game Day, Holidays, Christmas, & Thanksgiving categories.
Ingredients for Sweet Tea Southern Recipe
This uses very simple ingredients of tea, water, and sugar. Additionally, for flexibility, speed, and consistency, I do use tea bags instead of loose tea. I’ve used loose tea in the past but these are just as good and saves a ton of time and mess.
Popular Ingredients Questions on How To Make Southern Sweet Tea
What kinds of tea to use making Southern sweet tea
Southern sweet tea uses Black tea most commonly. Fortunately, that’s the kind used in most popular common grocery stores.
What the best iced tea bags to use?
The absolute best iced tea bags are most major brands like Tetley, Luzianne, and Lipton for making Southern sweet tea.
Major brands like Tetley, Luzianne, and Lipton are super for making Southern sweet tea recipe.
What are the best sized tea bags to use?
You can use 1 large tea bag that’s specified for a gallon of tea. Those bags are about 1 ounce each. However, I’ve found it’s noticeably better when using 4 of the smaller, family-sized tea bags that are 1/4 ounce each.
Steps for How To Make Southern Sweet Tea – 1 Gallon
Overall, here are the summarized steps of how to make Southern Sweet Tea recipe of one gallon. Keep reading and see the details in the recipe itself.
- Boil the initial 4 cups water. I just use a large 4-cup measuring cup in the microwave. It takes about 8 minutes.
2. Pour the hot water over the tea bags inside the gallon pitcher. Then, wait exactly 10 minutes.
3. Set the tea bags aside and stir in the cup of sugar until dissolved.
4. Move tea bags into an empty large measuring cup. Pour 4 cups cold, tap water into it. Stir a bit and pour it into the pitcher. Repeat to use all 12 cups of additional water.
5. Make a final stir and serve over ice or store in the fridge. You just made Darn Good Tea that was speedy, easy, and tasty!
How To Make Iced Tea FAST
Using the microwave let you make iced tea quickly. I’m all about speedy iced tea as long as it gives that quality flavor strength without being bitter. But, it still has to be tasty tea so, follow my recipe steps by using the microwave to boil the water. The really only waiting of time to pass is the 10 minutes while the tea sits in the boiled water from the microwave. Overall, this is the fastest way to make homemade Southern sweet tea quick.
Nutrition of Iced Tea
Typically, there are about 48 calories in an 8 ounce glass of this sweet tea. Also, it has about 12 grams of carbs. The amount of sugar vs soda is noticeable. This has about 12 grams of sugar and a soda, adjusting for the size in a can, is still about double the sugar so, sweet tea seems to have less sugar. Also, it’s made at home and not processed in a factory like sodas. For more detailed nutritional info, tap on the <Print> option of the recipe.
Does Iced Tea Dehydrate You?
Generally, no. Iced tea and even hot tea can hydrate you according to ArtOfTea.com. It’s something of a misconception about tea causing dehydration because tea has caffeine. However, the amount of caffeine is typically low in tea. Is water better? However, sugar content in tea is another matter altogether. So, read their entire good article “Does Tea Hydrate You?“.
How To Make Southern Sweet Tea Last Longer In The Fridge
For storage, you can make this tea last longer in a few ways. For starters, it lasts real good for the first 3 days. By the time 5 days has gone by, it’s still okay but just not as fresh. Some guides will tell you to put 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in a gallon of tea if you’re keeping it longer than 1-2 days in the fridge. Following my recipe has never had a need for any additives needed.
However, it definitely will last longer if you don’t put it in the fridge door and set it a bit back on the shelf. Another way, is to make just enough to last up to about 3 days. Another way is to ensure it’s in a container you can close more securely. There are pitchers with lids you can turn to shut off air to it with a simple turn. Finally, storing it in glass keeps it much fresher than in plastic. Finally, avoid storing it in a metal container.
There are glass pitchers with easy lids you can turn to shut off air with a simple twist.
Conclusion of How To Make Southern Sweet Tea Recipe
Finally, you’ve seen my tips over the past decades of how to make Southern sweet tea perfectly. No additives nor sugar substitutes are used. Altogether, you just use tea, sugar, and water. The proven freshness and flavor lasts longer with the brew time of just 10 minutes. I’ve done the longer 15 minutes and the short 5-7 minutes dozens of times but the precise 10 minutes is the perfect time.
Also, that’s tied into pouring the final tap water over the just used tea bags. That method adds to its strength. Finally, this recipe is the perfect brewed tea strength for pouring over a glass of ice. Overall, this was taken into consideration maintaining its strength and flavor after some ice melting. Make it for your next meal!
Sweet Tea Southern Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 oz tea bag 1 lg (1 oz) or 4 family-size (¼ oz each)
- 4 cups water for boiling
- 1 cup sugar
- 12 cups water for final addition
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups water to a boil via stovetop or microwave.4 cups water
- Brew by pouring boiled water over tea bag(s) into a pitcher. Let it sit for exactly 10 minutes.1 oz tea bag
- Move tea bag(s) from pitcher into a large empty measuring cup. Then, add in 1 cup sugar into pitcher and stir until fully dissolved.1 cup sugar
- Measure out cold tap water and pour over the tea bag(s) in the large measuring cup. Stir a little to get more tea out of bags. Pour into pitcher of tea. Repeat until all final addition of 12 cups water have been used.12 cups water
- Stir pitcher and serve over ice or store in fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Related to Iced Tea Southern Style
Here’s another type of Southern Sweet Tea recipe that’s extra sweet from Brandie Skibinski of The Country Cook out of Virginia. She also has a great historical story of the origin of Southern Sweet Tea. Check it out!
I simply could not leave your web site. It’s so much easier to find recipes. Love those categories inside the squares. And the search box too. I come back every now and then to check out new posts.
I thought this tea post was great. Cheers.
Simply desire to say your Southern Tea recipe worked perfectly! I needed those details and timings.
I like your way of making tea much better. Great recipe guide on it.
Perfect tea!
Hi Neat recipe for tea. I changed how I make it now. It’s perfect. Thanks for those details.
Absolutely my new classic tea. Much better flavor. Great tips.