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Classic Sweet Tea
Master the perfect homemade sweet tea recipe! Learn how to make this classic with just 3 ingredients in 20 minutes.…
Master the perfect homemade sweet tea recipe! Learn how to make this classic with just 3 ingredients in 20 minutes. Less sugar than traditional recipes but perfectly balanced for the most refreshing glass you’ve ever tasted.
Forget store-bought versions – the best sweet tea comes straight from your kitchen! Our perfectly balanced homemade sweet tea recipe brings out the bold, nutty notes of black tea while maintaining that signature sweetness.
The moment Alex and I perfected this recipe, we knew we’d never go back to pre-made versions again. Here are all our tips for making this classic at home.
Why this sweet tea recipes works
Sweet tea is black tea that’s sweetened with sugar, then chilled before serving. People drink it all over the world, but it’s most popular in the American South and Indonesia. It’s so famous in the Southern US that it’s almost like a religion! What makes this homemade sweet tea recipe special? It’s all about balance:
- Just enough sugar to enhance the tea’s natural flavor without overwhelming it
- Proper steeping time to extract maximum flavor
- Careful cooling process to maintain clarity
- Perfect ratio of tea to water for ideal strength
The result is a crystal-clear, perfectly sweetened tea that’s refreshing for summer afternoons and sophisticated enough for parties.
Expert tips for perfect sweet tea
You need just three ingredients to make this sweet tea recipe! It’s quick and easy, with only a few minutes of hands on time. Here’s what you’ll need before you start:
- Select the right type of tea. Use fresh black tea bags for the best flavor. Orange pekoe or English breakfast tea work beautifully. Avoid old tea bags, which can impart bitter notes.
- Water: Use filtered water if possible. Bring water just to a simmer, not a rolling boil. Cool gradually to maintain clarity.
- Sugar: This level of granulated sugar sweetens the tea just enough to highlight the flavor without overpowering it.
Variation—using alternate sweeteners
You can make sweet tea with whatever sweetener you like! While they’re not standard sweeteners, you can use any of the following in this recipe if you’d like to make it naturally sweet:
- Honey: Honey sweet tea has a few notes of honey in the base flavor
- Maple syrup: You can also use maple syrup to sweeten: it adds nuance but does not taste like maple
- Agave syrup: Another natural sweetener is agave syrup! It adds a gentle subtle sweetness
Garnishes for sweet tea
The best part about sweet tea is hearing the music of ice cubes hitting against the glass, right? We love serving iced tea for summer entertaining, like patio parties, cookouts, pitch-ins, and pool parties. To make it look its best, we like to add the following to the pitcher or serving glass:
- Lemon slices or wedges — add a squeeze of juice before drinking, as a variation
- Fresh mint leaves — these add a fresh, bright look
Storing leftovers
Keep this homemade sweet tea refrigerated for up to 4 days, stored in a glass pitcher to prevent flavor transfer. Avoid storing near strong-smelling foods.
Dietary notes
This sweet tea recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Classic Sweet Tea
Print RecipeHere’s how to make classic sweet tea! This recipe is easy to make and comes out with best refreshing flavor that’s sweetened just enough.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8
- Category: Drink
- Method: Tea
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 8 cups water, divided
- 6 black tea bags
- ⅓ cup sugar
Instructions
- In a saucepan, heat 4 cups water to a simmer. Turn off the heat and add the tea bags. Allow to steep for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Add the remaining 4 cups cold water to the pan. Cool until room temperature, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a pitcher. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before drinking. Store up to 4 days.
More tea and summer drinks
There’s lots more tea where this comes from! Try our tea recipes, infused waters and more:
- Herbal Teas: You can make tea with fresh herbs and boiling water! Try Thyme Tea, Mint Tea, Oregano Tea, Rosemary Tea or Sage Tea.
- Black tea with basil: A fun way to drink hot tea: try Basil Tea.
- Infused waters: Perfect for summer entertaining! Try colorful Fruit Infused Water or Lime Mint Water, or Lemon Herb Cucumber Water.
- Lemonade and limeade: Try Lemonade, Limeade or Cherry Limeade.
- Cold coffees: Try our Iced Coffee or Cold Brew Coffee.
