Hey Ya’ll! When you think about the South I’m sure sweet tea comes to mind. Funny story, I use to shoot weddings way back when and was hired to second shoot in Massachusetts. Anna, my friend and I packed and headed up North to stay the weekend for a wedding. Our first night there we decided to head out and photograph the area. It wasn’t long before our Southern accents were a hit everywhere we’d go. We had so many people wanting us to say “grits” and “sweet tea”. If we had a dollar for every time we got asked, we could have skipped shooting the wedding for money and flew back home.
Sweet tea holds a special place in my heart as I’m sure it does to most Southerners. In the South I don’t care who you were, you were invited to have a glass of sweet tea if you stopped by. It reminds me of summer days and screen doors slamming closed. We had it for supper, family gatherings, and sittin’ on the porch in the afternoon watching the sun set across the field. For me, sweet tea is a taste of home and when I’m missing my momma and mamaw I make a big ‘ole pitcher and think about summer days in South Carolina. How ’bout we get to the recipe!
SWEET TEA VS. ICED TEA
What's the difference in sweet tea and iced tea?
Don’t get sweet tea confused with iced tea. If you go somewhere and you order sweet tea and they give you packs of sugar, it aint sweet tea. Sweet tea is made with the sugar in it, iced tea is sugar added. It ain’t the same!
How to Make Sweet Tea, Southern Style.
Y’all ready for some jaw droppin’ sweet tea? It’s all in the details, not really, it’s about the sugar dear. It all starts with the tea, we like Lipton tea but any good ‘ole strong black tea will work just fine. You’re gonna start off with yer pot of water and bring 4 cups to a boil. You ain’t gonna boil the tea bags so cut off the burner and put 3 big size tea bags in to steep awhile. Go sweep those cobwebs out of the corner while you wait. If you thinkin’ you might add some lemons, cut those up while you waitin’. In about 5 minutes it’s going to be good to go, don’t let it get too cool or you can’t dissolve the sugar. Pull out your tea bags (put them in the freezer, it’s great for puffy eyes) then pour your sugar in. Stir, Stir, and Stir some more until it’s all dissolved. Once you got that done you add some cold water, some ice, and put it in the fridge to chill. Once chilled, stir, pour over ice in a big ‘ole mason jar, add you a lemon slice and ENJOY.
Use any black tea of your choice. I used Lipton tea bags.
Once your
water comes to
a boil, turn it off. Add tea bags and let steep for 5 minutes.
add 1 cup of sugar to warm tea.
stir, stir until sugar has dissolved.
lemons add a nice zing to your tea. Add lemons to you glass, not before.
pour a tall glass of tea for yourself and enjoy!!!
How to make Sweet Tea
Equipment
- 1 small sauce pan
- 1 long handled wooden spoon
- 1 gallon size pitcher
Ingredients
- 4 cups water
- 3 family size tea bags
- 1 cup sugar (I use stevia)
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
- Put 3 tea bags in hot water and let steep for 5 minutes or longer.
- Remove tea bags and add sugar to saucepan. STIR STIR STIR until all sugar has dissolved.
- Pour tea in your gallon pitcher and add water. I add ice cubes that melt, it makes the tea cool off faster.
- Stir tea with long handled spoon, add slices of lemon or mint and chill in fridge.
- ENJOY!!
Notes
- Your tea may be get stronger and sweeter as it sits in the fridge, you can add more water if needed.
- Store your tea in the fridge. Drink before the week is out, it will taste sour.
- If you like your tea super sweet, add more sugar to the recipe. If you don't want it too sweet, cut the recipe to 1/2 cup of sugar.
- Arnold Palmer tea. Add equal parts of lemonade to tea.