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Perfect Southern Sweet Iced Tea

A tall glass filled with ice and rich, dark Perfect Southern Sweet Iced Tea, glistening in sunlight.
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Follow this traditional method to make authentic, perfectly sweet, and clear Southern iced tea.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 family-size black tea bags (like Lipton or Luzianne)
  • 1 cup granulated white sugar
  • 8 cups boiling water
  • 1 gallon pitcher
  • Ice cubes

Instructions

  1. Place the 8 tea bags into a heat-safe, one-gallon pitcher.
  2. In a separate pot, bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil.
  3. Pour the 4 cups of boiling water directly over the tea bags in the pitcher.
  4. Allow the tea to steep undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes for a strong brew. Do not squeeze the bags.
  5. Remove and discard the tea bags.
  6. Immediately add the 1 cup of sugar to the hot tea concentrate. Stir well until the sugar is completely dissolved. This step is key for clarity and sweetness.
  7. Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water to the pitcher to stop the brewing process and cool the tea slightly.
  8. Refrigerate the tea concentrate until fully chilled, about 2 to 3 hours.
  9. To serve, fill glasses with ice and pour the chilled sweet tea over the ice. Add more cold water if you prefer a slightly weaker tea.

Notes

  • Use good quality, room-temperature water for the initial boil to help prevent cloudiness.
  • If you prefer a less sweet tea, start with 3/4 cup of sugar and adjust to taste after chilling.
  • For a stronger flavor without bitterness, steep for the full 15 minutes, but do not exceed this time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://spoonsprout.com/perfect-southern-sweet-iced-tea-recipe/