How to Make Sweet Tea

If you grew up in the south like I did, you know that sweet tea is the most common drink.  Whether you are at a potluck, restaurant or a friends house you are usually offered sweet tea as a drink option.  Until the last few years, it was the only option at some banquets or parties I have attended, now water is also offered and sometimes unsweet tea.  My family loves sweet tea and we have went through a gallon each day in the past.  This was before my husband started trying to drink more water.  He doesn’t care for water and really prefers to drink tea, he will drink it almost anyway it is offered except for completely unsweet.  He doesn’t have a problem with artificial sweeteners and would drink artificially sweetened tea everyday.

I don’t like artificial sweeteners and I do not think they are good for you, but realize that some people can not have sugar. I try to encourage drinking water in our house most of the time, but I do not think drinking a sweet tea occasionally is any more of a problem than any other drink or treat. You can have anything you love as long as you have it in moderation. My husband has problems with moderation when it comes to his sweet tea, so now we only make it occasionally and for special occasions.

It is really easy to make and very inexpensive. I buy the store brand of black tea in the individual size 100 count box. I use 5 of these small bags for a gallon of tea.  Some people like to use more tea bags, but I don’t find it necessary.  I just make sure to squeeze all the tea out of the bags, just be careful not to tear the tea bags as you don’t want to get the grounds in your tea.

Fill a small pan with water, add the tea bags and bring it to a boil. While it is coming to a boil, do not leave the room and keep a close eye on it.

As soon as it starts to boil we turn it down to medium and allow it to boil for a couple of minutes. If you don’t turn it down, it will boil over. If you make tea very often, then you will want to use the same tea pan each time, as it will get stained.

While the tea is boiling, you can place the sugar in the tea pitcher. We use 1 cup of sugar for one gallon of tea, some people or restaurants add 2 cups or more sugar per gallon of tea. A lot of people ask for half and half tea at restaurants because the sweet tea is so sweet, so they get half sweet and half unsweet.  Once the tea has boiled for a couple of minutes, remove from the stove and pour into the pitcher keeping tea bags in the pan.

Once the liquid has been pressed out of the bags, discard them and stir to dissolve the sugar. Then fill the gallon pitcher up to the top with cold water, stir and place in the refrigerator until it is chilled.

If you want to make unsweet tea, follow these directions except eliminate the sugar.

Sweet Iced Tea

Ingredients

5 small individual black tea bags

1 cup of sugar

water

Place a small pan of water on the stove, add the tea bags and bring to a boil.  When the tea begins to boil, turn heat down to medium and allow to continue boiling for a couple of minutes.  Add sugar to a gallon size pitcher and pour hot tea over the sugar, press the tea bags to remove the liquid before discarding tea bags.  Stir until sugar is dissolved and then fill pitcher up with water to make one gallon and place in refrigerator to cool.

What is your favorite beverage? Do you like sweet tea? Leave a comment and let me know.

We make sweet tea for special occasions like a birthday party or vacation.

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