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–+ servings
Two tall glasses of iced tea with ice cubes—one garnished with a lemon wedge, the other with a mint sprig. In the background, lemon wedges and mint leaves rest on a white cloth, perfect accompaniments to any canned cowboy candy recipe.

Smooth Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

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This Southern sweet tea recipe is a smooth, refreshing drink that’s easy to prepare. Made with black tea, sugar, and a touch of baking soda, this iced tea recipe is perfect for summer gatherings or casual get-togethers.
Course Beverage
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword sweet, tea
Prep Time 4 minutes
Steep 10 minutes
Total Time 14 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 72
Author Gina Dickson

Ingredients

  • 1 pinch baking soda
  • 4 cups boiling water use filtered water for the best taste
  • 2 family-size black tea bags such as Luzianne or Lipton
  • ¾ cup white sugar adjust to taste; substitute with honey or monk fruit if desired
  • 4 cups cool water use filtered water for a clean, crisp flavor
  • Ice for serving
  • Lemon wedges or fresh mint for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Prep and Brew

  • Add a pinch of baking soda to a 64-ounce heat-proof glass pitcher.
    1 pinch baking soda
  • In a separate heat-proof glass container, pour in 4 cups of boiling water.
    4 cups boiling water
  • Add 2 family-size black tea bags to the boiling water and steep for 10 minutes.
    2 family-size black tea bags
    A glass measuring cup filled with hot brewed tea and tea bags, with condensation on the sides. The cup sits on a white surface, and a tea bag label reading “Great Value Iced Tea” hangs over the rim—perfect alongside a canned cowboy candy recipe.

Add Sugar and Water

  • Remove and discard the tea bags.
  • Stir ¾ cup of white sugar into the hot tea until fully dissolved.
    ¾ cup white sugar
  • In your serving pitcher, add 4 cups of cool water.
    4 cups cool water
  • Pour the sweetened tea into the pitcher with the cool water.
    A clear glass jug filled with a dark amber liquid, reminiscent of a homemade canned cowboy candy recipe, sits on a white surface with its white plastic lid beside it. The background is plain white tile.
  • Stir well to combine.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until fully chilled.

Serve

  • Serve the sweet tea over ice.
    Ice
  • Garnish with a wedge of lemon or a sprig of fresh mint, if desired.
    Lemon wedges or fresh mint

Notes

Storage: Store refrigerated in a covered glass container and enjoy your sweet tea within 3 days for best flavor.
Freezing: Freeze tea in ice cube trays or freezer containers (leave space for expansion). Perfect if you need to prep for a big party.
Reheating: Best enjoyed cold, but you can gently warm individual servings for a warm cup of tea.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 72kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 0.4mg | Sugar: 19g | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 0.01mg
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