Description
This Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea is a refreshing and flavorful twist on traditional sweet tea, combining brewed black tea with fresh strawberry juice and just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect for hot days, this vibrant iced tea is garnished with fresh or frozen strawberries and mint for a delightful summer beverage that serves six.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 4–5 family-size tea bags (such as Luzianne)
- 6 cups water, divided
Strawberry Juice
- 4 cups ripe strawberries (about 1 cup of juice)
Sweetener and Garnish
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- Frozen or fresh strawberries (optional garnish)
- Fresh mint (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Brew the Tea: In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat, add the tea bags, and allow them to steep for 10 minutes. After steeping, discard the tea bags.
- Prepare the Strawberries: While the tea is steeping, dice the strawberries into smaller pieces. Place them in a food processor and puree until smooth to prepare fresh strawberry juice.
- Strain the Strawberry Puree: Pour the pureed strawberries through a fine mesh strainer set over a bowl to separate the juice from the pulp. Reserve the juice and discard the pulp to ensure a smooth iced tea.
- Combine Tea, Strawberry Juice, and Sugar: In a large pitcher, combine the freshly brewed tea, reserved strawberry juice, and granulated sugar. Stir thoroughly until the sugar is fully dissolved, creating the sweet base of the iced tea.
- Add Cold Water and Chill: Pour in the remaining 4 cups of cold water to dilute the mixture, stir well, then refrigerate the tea until it is thoroughly chilled, usually about 20 minutes to 1 hour.
- Serve: Fill glasses with ice and pour the chilled strawberry sweet tea over ice. Garnish each glass with fresh or frozen strawberries and fresh mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy a refreshing summer drink.
Notes
- Use family-size tea bags like Luzianne for a strong, robust black tea flavor.
- Adjust the amount of sugar to taste if you prefer a less sweet or sweeter tea.
- Straining the strawberry puree removes seeds and pulp for a smoother drink.
- Make the tea ahead of time and keep it refrigerated for up to 2 days for best freshness.
- Adding fresh mint as a garnish adds a refreshing herbal note to the iced tea.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
