Summer Sweet Tea

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Summer Sweet Tea

It’s hot and horrendous everywhere and all I want right now is a hot dog and some sweet tea. I made the sweet tea, I’m working on hot dog logistics!

I learned how to make sweet tea where it was invented: the south. In college, I worked at a restaurant and my side work was usually to make the sweet tea and roll a bunch of silverware. Making the tea was my favorite.

Summer Sweet Tea

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The way I made it was deemed “the Yankee” way and depending on who my co-workers were, there was usually a ton more sugar added as soon as I walked away.

I don’t like it too sweet! If you loooooove it sweet, then feel free to add another cup of sugar to the hot mixture below.

I used Lipton, though I was on the hunt for Luzianne because that’s what I always used way back when. If you want, feel free to use the free-range/pasture-raised/gluten-free black tea that you get from those fancy-ass tea shops. That stuff will be delicious, too.

Summer Sweet Tea

Add some lemon slices and mint and you have yourself a glass of something that is really the most refreshing thing you could possibly get on a hot summer’s day.

Summer Sweet Tea

Summer Sweet Tea

5 from 1 vote

Summer Sweet Tea

Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 gallon sweet tea

Ingredients 

  • 12 black tea bags
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 quart 4 cups of very hot water
  • 3 quarts 12 cups of cold or room temperature water
  • 2 lemons, sliced
  • Bundle of fresh mint
  • Ice, lots of it

Instructions 

  • To a large bowl or 4 cup measuring cup, add the tea bags and sugar. Pour in the very hot water and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Set your timer to 5 minutes and allow the tea to steep. Remove the tea bags and squeeze them a bit to release any excess tea they’re holding onto.
  • Pour the tea concentrate into a very large pitcher. Next, add the remaining 3 quarts of water. Transfer to the fridge to chill for 1 hour. At the 1 hour mark, it should be cool enough to stir in the lemon slices and bundle of fresh mint leaves. If serving right away, feel free to add ice. If not, then you can just add some ice as you go.
Like this Recipe? Please Rate & comment below!

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8 Comments

  1. Although some may argue there is only one way to drink tea—sweet and iced—here are some must-try iced tea recipes.

  2. I have lived in the south (Louisiana, Alabama, and Texas) my entire life and I HATE sweet tea! And yes, people think I’m weird. Oh, wait. I am! Yours looks nice though. 🙂

  3. This sounds delicious! I love a good sweet tea, but not too sweet! Gorgeous pictures, too.
    Happy Summer!
    xx Sydney

  4. I’m with ya- I LOVE sweet tea and enjoyed in when I lived in NOLA, but could only do it half sweet/half non-sweet. Otherwise, it was almost like I could feel my teeth rotting!

  5. I used to date a guy whose mom would probably put a good 3 cups of sugar in a batch like that. I’m southern and loved it at our weekly Sunday dinners, but there’s no way I could drink more than a glass a week. 1 cup for the win.

  6. The first time I had sweet tea I thought I was for sure going to loose a tooth from the sweetness! Your “yankee” version looks just right to me though. Plus I love that pitcher/jug/jar thing you have, so ca-ute!