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A glass pitcher filled with homemade Southern sweet tea, garnished with lemon slices and fresh mint.

The Best Homemade Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

A refreshing and classic Southern sweet tea recipe, perfect for hot summer days.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: beverage
Cuisine: Southern
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Method
 

  1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large saucepan or kettle.
  2. Remove the saucepan from heat and add the tea bags. Let them steep for 5-7 minutes, depending on your preferred tea strength.
  3. Carefully remove the tea bags, gently squeezing out excess liquid, and discard them.
  4. Add the granulated sugar to the hot tea and stir until fully dissolved.
  5. Pour the sweetened tea concentrate into a large pitcher. Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water and stir to combine.
  6. Refrigerate the tea for at least 1-2 hours, or until chilled.
  7. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices or fresh mint, if desired.

Notes

For a stronger tea flavor, steep the tea bags for up to 10 minutes. Adjust sugar to taste if you prefer less sweetness.