Perfect Sweet Southern Iced Tea Recipe
A simple, refreshing sweet Southern iced tea recipe that balances bold black tea flavor with just the right amount of sweetness, perfect for summer sipping.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes steeping + 20-30 minutes cooling
- Total Time: 30-40 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Southern American
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 regular-sized black tea bags (or 8 small)
- 8 cups (1.9 liters) fresh filtered water
- 3/4 to 1 cup (150–200 grams) granulated sugar, adjust to taste
- Ice cubes, plenty
- Lemon slices (optional)
- Fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- Bring 8 cups (1.9 liters) of fresh water to a near boil (about 200°F / 93°C).
- Add 6 regular-sized black tea bags into the hot water and stir gently to submerge.
- Steep the tea for exactly 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags, pressing gently against the pot to extract flavor.
- While the tea is still hot, stir in 3/4 to 1 cup (150-200 grams) granulated sugar until completely dissolved.
- Let the sweetened tea cool to room temperature (about 20-30 minutes). For faster cooling, place the pitcher in an ice-water bath.
- Transfer the cooled tea to a pitcher filled with ice cubes and stir to chill evenly.
- Optionally add lemon slices or fresh mint and let flavors mingle for 5 minutes.
- Serve over additional ice if desired and enjoy immediately.
Notes
Do not over-steep the tea to avoid bitterness; steep for exactly 5 minutes. Dissolve sugar while tea is hot for smooth sweetness. Cool tea before adding ice to prevent dilution. Adjust sugar in 1/4 cup increments to taste. For lower sugar, substitute half sugar with honey or agave syrup, dissolving while hot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (8 fl oz / 240
- Calories: 90120
- Sugar: 2530
- Carbohydrates: 2530
Keywords: sweet iced tea, southern iced tea, summer drink, refreshing beverage, black tea, sweet tea recipe