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Southern Sweet Tea

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Description

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.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cold water
  • 1 family-size tea bag (or 3 regular tea bags)
  • ¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar (or to taste — but remember, the South leans sweet! I like my tea real sweet so I use the whole full cup of sugar )
  • 5 cups cold water
  • Ice cubes
  • Lemon slices for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Boil 3 cups water in a saucepan.
  2. Remove from heat, add tea bag, cover, and steep 12 minutes.
  3. Remove bag and press gently.
  4. Stir hot tea into sugar in a pitcher until dissolved.
  5. Add 5 cups cold water and stir.

Serve over ice and garnish with lemon or orange slices if desired.

Notes

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!