Sweet Tea Recipe - Southern Sweet Tea
How To Make Sweet Tea - Sweet Tea Recipe


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Southerners swear by their traditional sweet ice tea and drink it by the gallons. In the South, ice tea is not just a summertime drink, it is served year round with most meals. When people order tea in a Southern restaurant, chances are they will get sweet ice tea. Andra Cook, a friend and co-author of my first cookbook, makes delicious sweet tea using a sugar substitute in place of some of the sugar. You will definitely love this sweet tea!

pitcher of sweet tea

Learn about the History of Ice Tea and Sweet Tea.

Also check out Juanita's Southern Ice Tea and more great Beverage Recipes.

 


Andra's Sweet Tea Recipe - How To Make Sweet Tea

Recipe Type: Beverage, Iced Tea and Sweet Tea
Cuisine: Southern
Yields: 1/2 gallon
Prep time: 15 min


Ingredients:

5 cups water, divided
2 regular-size tea bags
Pinch baking soda
2 (1 grain each) Saccharin tablets*
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 cups cold water
Ice cubes

* A white crystalline powder having a taste about 500 times sweeter than cane sugar, used as a calorie-free sweetener.


Preparation:

Bring 3 cups water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags and baking soda; let steep 1 minute and then remove tea bags. Add remaining 2 cups water.

In a large pitcher, add saccharin tablets and sugar. Add warm tea and stir. Add additional 3 cups cold water and stir until well mixed. Cool and serve in tall glasses over ice.

Yields 1/2 gallon.

 


 Secrets To Making Clear Tea

ice teaWhen tea steeps, tannins (the natural compounds that color tea leaves) are released into the boiling water. The heat helps dissolve them, and the brew is clear enough to see through.  Refrigeration can cause tannins to separate out again, turning the tea murky. Generally, higher-quality tea contains more tannins (because it is richer in solids) and is more likely to become cloudy.  

Hard water can also make your iced tea cloudy. Also the minerals in your water could be causing the cloudiness. Try using bottled or filtered water and let the tea stand at room temperature for an hour after steeping.

Do not use cold water (use room temperature water).

Do not add ice to hot tea, only add the ice cubes to your drinking glass and then pour the tea over the ice cubes.

Do not put it straight into the refrigerator after it's made. Let it cool at room temperature first. THEN put it in the fridge. Cooling too fast makes the tannin settle out, causing cloudy tea.

If the tea turns murky in the refrigerator, add a cup of boiling water to one quart of tea - it should clear up the cloudiness. Remember, it will also dilute the tea, so add less ice.