Learn how to make the perfect Southern sweet tea, smooth, bold, and just the right amount of sweet. This easy recipe uses Luzianne tea bags and a traditional steeping method for refreshing flavor every time. Perfect for summer cookouts, porch sipping, and Sunday suppers.

Sweet Tea: The Champagne of the South

There’s something about a tall glass of sweet tea that feels like a warm front porch hug. Whether it’s Sunday supper, Easter brunch, or just a scorcher of a summer afternoon, sweet tea is the golden nectar of the South what many of us lovingly call The Champagne of the South.

If you’ve ever sipped sweet tea on a shady porch while the cicadas sing and the rocking chairs creak, then you already know this isn’t just a beverage. It’s Southern heritage in a glass. As my grandmother used to say, “It’s the wine of the front porch.” And let me tell you, that woman knew a thing or two about sweet tea and stories.

Sweet tea in the South is more than tradition it’s connection. It’s what you sip during porch talks, baby showers, backyard BBQs, and quiet hospital visits. It’s the drink of storytellers, biscuit bakers, and dreamers. You’ll find it sitting pretty right beside the deviled eggs and fried chicken at every reunion or church potluck. You’ll see it in crystal goblets at Sunday dinner, in mason jars at family cookouts, and in Styrofoam cups with condensation rolling down the sides at summer picnics.

I remember this past Easter when my daughter Ashley and I went out to lunch. The server came to our table, and when she asked what we’d like to drink, I spoke up and said, “I’ll take unsweetened tea,” trying to be good and watch those calories. You know how it is the older you get, the harder it is to justify a glass of sugar syrup disguised as tea.

But Ashley didn’t hesitate. She smiled and said, in her sweet Southern drawl, “I’ll take sweet tea and that’s what we call it in the South “Sweet Tea”. Not sweet iced tea, just simply “Sweet Tea”. I just sat there, smiling to myself, nearly tearing up at the table, thinking, “Aww, that’s how a Mama knows she’s raised her daughter right that true Southern comes out.” The girl may be citified, polished, but she knows her deep Southern roots. And when she took that first sip, her eyes closed and a grin spread across her face just like mine does every time. It’s funny how one glass of tea can feel like a homecoming.

After a month-long trip to Europe, you’d think I’d be craving one last French pastry or a big plate of pasta, but no. All I could think about on that plane ride home was a big ol’ glass of sweet tea. Not the bottled kind, not from a can but the real stuff. The kind you steep and stir with your heart. The kind that tastes like home.

The Lowdown on Sweet Tea: Southern Etiquette and a Touch of Fancy

Let’s get one thing straight: it’s not iced tea, it’s sweet tea. Down here, we don’t bother with the “iced” part because of course it’s iced. If it’s not cold and syrupy sweet, it might as well be water.

Now, some folks like to get a little fancy with their sweet tea. Maybe toss in a slice of orange or a sprig of mint. I remember the first time I had orange and mint in my tea it was at Houlihan’s in Lenox Square, back in the day. The tea came out in this tall, narrow, elegant glass, all dressed up with a big, thick orange slice and a perfect sprig of mint. I still remember it. Felt like I was in high cotton that day. Fancy tea.

But let’s be honest most Southerners don’t mess with their tea like that. Mint is strictly for ladies’ luncheons or some fancy affair where they serve tiny sandwiches and call it a meal. For the everyday table, it’s just sweet tea. Orange? Maybe. Mint? Only if you’re really putting on airs.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Southern Hospitality in a Glass: This is real-deal, garden-club, mason-jar, wrap-you-up-in-hospitality sweet tea. It’s smooth, bold, and just the right amount of sweet and yes, by Southern standards, that’s plenty sweet.
Tea Bags Matter: I’m a Luzianne Tea girl through and through. Luzianne is blended especially for iced tea. It brews up clear, strong, and never bitter. Of course, you can use Tetley or Lipton if that’s what’s in the pantry, but around here, Luzianne is what keeps the porch pitchers full.

You’ll Want More: This recipe makes just a half gallon… but let me go ahead and tell you now: you’ll wish you’d doubled it. Trust me, it goes fast.

What You’ll Need to Make Southern Sweet Tea

Nothing fancy here, just a few simple ingredients and a whole lot of love:

(Be sure to see the full printable recipe below this post.)

Water (both boiling and cold)
Family-size tea bag (or 3 regular ones)
Granulated sugar
Ice cubes
Lemon slices (optional)
Fresh mint sprigs (optional… and we’ll talk about that in a minute)

That’s it. The magic is in how you put it together.

How to Make Southern Sweet Tea

In a deep saucepan, bring 3 cups of cold water to a soft boil only.
Remove from heat, add tea bag(s), and cover. Let steep for exactly 12 minutes. (Note: Wait about 30 seconds before placing the tea bag in the saucepan. You never want to add a tea bag to boiling water. It will cause to tea to be bitter and the tea bag could also burst.)
Remove tea bag and gently press to get every last drop of goodness.
Pour hot tea into a large pitcher with the sugar and stir until completely dissolved.
Add 5 cups of cold water and stir again.
Chill and serve over ice. Garnish with lemon slices if you’d like.

Tips for Perfect Southern Sweet Tea

Use filtered water if you can. It really makes the flavor shine.
Don’t over-steep. Twelve minutes gives you bold flavor without bitterness. Note: be sure not place tea bags into boiling water. Remove from heat first. This will prevent the tea from becoming bitter.
Melt that sugar! Adding it while the tea is still warm is the key to that smooth, syrupy texture.
Serving tip: Want to be real Southern? Pour it into a mason jar. Want to feel a little fancy? Add a lemon wheel.
And about those mint leaves… Well, unless you’re serving tea at a bridal luncheon or a garden club soirée, most respectable Southerners don’t go tossing mint leaves in their sweet tea. That’s more of a “ladies who lunch” vibe. Around here, we like our tea strong, sweet, and straight up.

How to Store Sweet Tea

Once your sweet tea is cooled down, you’ll want to keep it fresh and flavorful.

Refrigerator: Store your tea in a glass pitcher or Mason jar for best taste. If your container doesn’t have a lid, just cover it tightly with plastic wrap—Mama always said it keeps the fridge smells out and the good flavor in. It’ll stay fresh for up to 5–7 days, but let’s be honest—it rarely lasts that long around here. Give it a good stir before pouring in case any sugar settles.
Avoid: Plastic containers—they can mess with the flavor, and nobody wants tea that tastes like last night’s leftovers. And don’t leave it sitting out—sweet tea spoils quicker than you think.

Can You Freeze Sweet Tea?

Yes, you can!

Freezing sweet tea is a great option if you made a big batch or want to keep some on hand for future gatherings.

How to Freeze:

Let tea cool completely before freezing.
Pour into freezer-safe containers or freezer bags, leaving a little room at the top for expansion.
Label with date. It’s best within 2–3 months.
To thaw, move to the fridge overnight or set on the counter for a few hours.

Bonus Tip:

Freeze in ice cube trays for tea-flavored ice cubes that won’t water down your drink!

Thank for stopping by! I’ll be back soon with more delicious Southern recipes.

Aletia

More recipes that you will love that are delicious with Sweet Tea!

Fresh Peach Punch

http://Old fashioned lemonade

Southern Tea Cakes

Southern Collard Greens

Alan’s Backyard BBQ: Big Green Egg Pork Loin & Summer Grilling

Southern Classic Hoppin John with Black Eyed Peas

For some fun and good Southern humor, check out my series of Spilling the Sweet Tea and Southern Fried Drama with the Honeycutt Family, right here!

Spillin’ the Sweet Tea: Southern Fried Drama

Be sure to leave a comment below if you have any questions about the recipe. I would love to hear from you and if you make it, be sure to use #deliciouslysouthern and let me know how you like it. Lastly, please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Click here to purchase an autographed copy of my cookbook “Deliciously Southern “. It features over 370 delicious Southern recipes!Deliciously Southern (Autographed Edition)