Equipment
Ingredients
Brewing
- 960 ml water
- 8 black tea bags
Mixing and Finishing
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 90 ml lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 960 ml water, cold
- 400 g ice
- 1 lemon, sliced
Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.
Full nutrition
- Calories
- 54 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fiber
- 1 g
- Sugar
- 13 g
- Sodium
- 12 mg
- Saturated Fat
- 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0 g
- Potassium
- 25 mg
- Calcium
- 20 mg
- Iron
- 0.1 mg
- Magnesium
- 5 mg
- Phosphorus
- 2 mg
- Zinc
- 0.1 mg
- Vitamin A
- 0 mcg
- Vitamin C
- 14 mg
- Vitamin E
- 0.0 mg
- Vitamin B6
- 0.0 mg
- Thiamin
- 0.01 mg
- Riboflavin
- 0.01 mg
- Niacin
- 0.0 mg
- Folate
- 3 mcg
- Water
- 308 g
- Caffeine
- 0 mg
Sources: USDA FoodData Central
Method
Heat 960ml of water in a kettle or saucepan until it reaches a rolling boil at 100°C (212°F).
Remove the water from the heat source, submerge the tea bags, and allow them to steep for 5 minutes.
Lift the tea bags out, press gently to extract remaining liquid, and discard the bags.
Transfer the hot tea concentrate into a pitcher.
Add 100g of sugar to the hot liquid and stir until the granules have completely dissolved.
Stir in the lemon juice and the remaining 960ml of cold water.
Add 400g of ice to the pitcher and stir to begin cooling the mixture.
Check the sweetness level and stir in more sugar if necessary.
Cover the pitcher and store in the refrigerator until the tea is thoroughly chilled.
Pour the tea into glasses over fresh ice and add a lemon slice for garnish if using.
Chef's Notes
- For optimal flavor, use a good quality black tea. While tea bags are convenient, loose-leaf tea can offer a more nuanced taste.
- Ensure the sugar is fully dissolved in the hot tea concentrate. Undissolved sugar can create a gritty texture.
- Don't over-steep the tea bags, as this can lead to a bitter flavor. Stick to the recommended 5 minutes.
- Adjust the sugar and lemon juice to your personal preference. The recipe provides a guideline, but taste and adjust as you go.
- Chilling the tea thoroughly is crucial for the best flavor and refreshing quality. Overnight chilling can further meld the flavors.
Storage
Refrigerator: 2 days — Store in a sealed pitcher to prevent the tea from absorbing refrigerator odors.
Troubleshooting
Tea tastes excessively bitter or astringent
Cause: The tea bags were steeped for longer than 5 minutes or squeezed too forcefully.
Fix: Add a small pinch of baking soda to the pitcher to neutralize the tannins.
Prevention: Use a timer for the steeping process and only apply light pressure when removing bags.
Sugar remains undissolved at the bottom of the pitcher
Cause: Sugar was added after the liquid had already cooled down.
Fix: Vigorously stir the mixture, or remove a small amount of liquid, heat it, dissolve the sugar, and return it to the pitcher.
Prevention: Always stir sugar into the tea while it is still hot from the steeping process.
Cultural Context
Southern sweet tea is a beloved staple across the American South, deeply ingrained in the region's culture and hospitality. Its origins are generally traced back to the late 19th century, evolving from iced tea preparations into the distinctively sweet and potent brew known today, often served at gatherings, family meals, and porch-side chats.
