Absolutely the Best Southern Sweet Tea

2Bleu's Note:

I know, I know. Everyone claims the best sweet tea around. I only say mine is best because everyone, and I do mean everyone... says so (so far, but now it's posted so that may change). Posted by request. Sometimes we will substitute two of the Lipton tea bags for two green tea bags which gives this tea another wonderful flavor. SOME TEA 'BAG' HISTORY: Tea 'bags' were originally created by manufacturers as 'samples' of their fine teas and given to the distributors to boost sales.

• Total Time: 4 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 1.0 gallon

• 6 lipton tea bags (regular size)
• 1 gallon water, very hot from tap (or you can boil it first)
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

Directions:

1. Hold tea bags lined up evenly by the strings and make a loop knot to hold them together. Pull off paper and staple (from paper side). Set aside.
2. In a one gallon pitcher, add very hot water. Stir in the sugar till dissolved.
3. Add tea bags and dunk into water a few times, then leave them in the pitcher. Cover with lid of pitcher and refrigerate.
4. Wait until it is very cold (at least 3-4 hours). The flavor changes until it reaches the 'cold' state.
5. Drink and enjoy. (I leave the bags set in the pitcher, but recommend taking them out after about 8 hours--- IF it lasts that long! We make 2 pitchers at a time down here in the south. :).

Reviews

[sheepdoc]

I forgot to get some sweet tea for the southern girl coming to Thanksgiving at our house so I decided to make some. Didn't have any cheap tea and only had 1/2 gal pitcher. Dissolved 2/3 cup sugar in some boiling water, added to superhot tap water to make 1/2 gal. Threw in 3 Earl Grey tea bags and let sit out about 15 minutes, then put in fridge for about 3 hours. Can't really review how it turned out - it was sweet and tea flavored, but I'm from Michigan!

[alwayshappy]

I love this recipe because you make it and are done. I usually let the tea stepp, then add the sugar, then refridgerate it but I have been wanting to simplify it because it takes so long! I left the tea bags in overnight- too long- so I won't be doing that again! This has a great taste!

[kathead33]

Speaking from experience...from the Deep South Mississippi. It is also important you STEEP the hot tea bags in water before you put in the fridge. Sugar content is right on!! Of course the secret to good sweet tea is dissolving the sugar before refrigeration.