Drinks
Southern Sweet Tea
Smooth, never-bitter sweet tea brewed the traditional Southern way.
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Cook Time
- 10 minutes
- Total Time
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings
- 8
Sweet tea is a Southern staple, and the secret is dissolving the sugar while the tea is hot and never squeezing the bags.
A pinch of baking soda smooths out any bitterness.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Five ingredients
- Never bitter
- Perfect for cookouts
- Make a gallon at a time
Ingredients
- 6 family-size black tea bags
- 8 cups water, divided
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 pinch baking soda
- Lemon slices and ice, for serving
Substitutions: Reduce the sugar to 3/4 cup for a lighter tea.
How to Make It
- 1
Steep
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, remove from heat, add the baking soda and tea bags, and steep 10 minutes.
- 2
Sweeten
Remove the bags without squeezing and stir in the sugar until fully dissolved.
- 3
Dilute and chill
Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water and refrigerate until cold.
Recipe Tips
- Never squeeze the tea bags — that's where bitterness comes from.
- Serve over plenty of ice with lemon.
What to Serve With It
- Southern Fried Chicken — Buttermilk-brined chicken with a craggy, deeply seasoned crust that stays crisp long after it leaves the skillet.
- Southern Potato Salad — Creamy mustard-forward potato salad with eggs, relish, and a dusting of paprika.
- Homemade Peach Cobbler — Juicy cinnamon peaches under a golden, buttery cobbler crust.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator
- Best within 3 days.
- Freezing
- Freeze into tea ice cubes.
- Reheating
- Serve cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why add baking soda?
A tiny pinch neutralizes the tannins that make tea taste bitter.
Recipe Card
Southern Sweet Tea
Smooth, never-bitter sweet tea brewed the traditional Southern way.
- Prep
- 5 minutes
- Cook
- 10 minutes
- Total
- 1 hour 15 minutes
- Servings
- 8
Ingredients
- 6 family-size black tea bags
- 8 cups water, divided
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1 pinch baking soda
- Lemon slices and ice, for serving
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, remove from heat, add the baking soda and tea bags, and steep 10 minutes.
- Remove the bags without squeezing and stir in the sugar until fully dissolved.
- Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water and refrigerate until cold.
Notes
Brew a double batch for gatherings.
You Might Also Love
Chicken
Southern Fried Chicken
Buttermilk-brined chicken with a craggy, deeply seasoned crust that stays crisp long after it leaves the skillet.
Southern Sides
Southern Potato Salad
Creamy mustard-forward potato salad with eggs, relish, and a dusting of paprika.
Desserts
Homemade Peach Cobbler
Juicy cinnamon peaches under a golden, buttery cobbler crust.