Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
a glass of the best southern sweet iced tea with a pitcher of tea in the background

The Best Southern Sweet Iced Tea

Homemade Southern-style sweet iced tea is an easy drink recipe that is perfect all year round!
4.88 from 16 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Add to Collection
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 12 glasses
Calories 97 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 gallon water
  • 3 pitcher sized black tea bags or 10-12 regular-sized tea bags
  • ¼ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 ½ cups sugar
  • fresh mint optional; choose only one garnish
  • lemon optional; choose only one garnish
  • peach slices optional; choose only one garnish
  • raspberries optional; choose only one garnish

Instructions
 

  • Bring half of the water up to a boil over high heat. Once it has reached a rolling boil (constant big bubbles), remove the pot from the heat and add in the tea bags and baking soda. Allow tea to steep for 5-6 minutes, but no longer.
  • After 6 minutes, carefully remove the tea bags from the pot without squeezing the liquid from the bags. Add in the sugar and stir until dissolved.
  • Add the remaining cold water to the tea mixture and pour it into a pitcher.
  • Pour tea over ice in a tall glass. Add mint leaves or sliced lemons, as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 97kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Sodium: 39mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 25g | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for later!Follow @FeelsLikeHome or tag #FeelsLikeHomeBlog!