Summer cannot be summer without Summer Sweet Tea ! It is refreshingly addictive! Sip it while you are entertaining a family get together or while on your porch reading the latest bestseller or your favorite genre. How difficult can it be? A large box of tea bags could make 8-2 quart pitchers or 4 gallons of tea! Add the cost of a little bit of sugar and you can create a true show-stopper beverage.
Baking soda is a common, often unknown, ingredient of most sweet teas. Why baking soda? Sources indicate this neutralizes the tea’s tannins which will give the tea a smoother taste. In other words, it reduces its bitterness.
Pour 1 quart (4 cups) of boiling water over the tea bags and cover. Allow it to steep for 10 minutes.
While the tea is steeping for 10 minutes,, make the simple syrup. Boil only until sugar is completely dissolved. Set it aside until ready to use.
Remove the tea bags after 10 minutes. Do not squeeze them, but allow the excess water to drip into the pitcher.
To finish, stir in the simple syrup. Then add in the cold water and chill until ready to serve.
Pour tea over a full glass of ice. As the ice melts, it will create the perfect glass of sweet tea. Add a slice of lemon and/or a sprig of fresh mint. Now, where did I put my book?
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2 quarts
- 12 tea bags- I use Lipton.
- ⅛ t. baking soda
- 4 c. boiling water
- 4 c. cold water
- Simple Syrup:
- 1 c. water
- 1 c. sugar
- Place 12 tea bags along with the baking soda in a 2 quart pitcher.
- Pour 4 cups of boiling water over top of tea bags and cover.
- Steep for 10 minutes.
- While tea is steeping, boil water and sugar for the simple syrup until sugar is dissolved.
- Allow tea bags to drip empty before completely removing them; do not squeeze.
- Stir in the simple syrup.
- Add the cold water and stir; store in refrigerator.
- Serve over a glass full of ice, with a sprig of mint or a slice of lemon, if desired 🙂
