Description
This Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea is a refreshing and flavorful twist on classic sweet tea, combining brewed black tea with fresh strawberry juice and a touch of sweetness. Perfect for hot summer days, this iced tea is both vibrant and thirst-quenching, ideal for serving at gatherings or as a delightful everyday refreshment.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 4–5 family-size black tea bags (Luzianne recommended)
- 2 cups water (for brewing tea)
- 4 cups cold water (to dilute)
Strawberry Juice
- 4 cups ripe strawberries (about 1 cup juice)
Sweetener
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Garnish (Optional)
- Frozen or fresh strawberries
- Fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Boil water: In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil on the stovetop, or heat the water in the microwave until boiling.
- Steep tea bags: Remove the boiling water from heat, add 4-5 family-size black tea bags, and let steep for 10 minutes to extract rich flavor. After steeping, discard the tea bags.
- Prepare strawberries: While the tea steeps, dice the ripe strawberries into smaller pieces to make processing easier.
- Puree strawberries: Place the diced strawberries into a food processor and blend until smooth to create strawberry puree.
- Strain strawberry juice: Pour the strawberry puree through a fine mesh strainer, collecting the juice in a bowl while discarding the pulp for a smooth texture.
- Combine ingredients: In a large pitcher, mix the brewed tea, freshly extracted strawberry juice, and granulated sugar. Stir thoroughly until the sugar dissolves completely.
- Add cold water: Pour in 4 cups of cold water to the mixture to dilute and cool it down, stirring gently to blend everything evenly.
- Chill the tea: Refrigerate the pitcher for several hours until the tea is ice cold, enhancing the refreshing taste.
- Serve: Pour the strawberry sweet iced tea over ice cubes in serving glasses.
- Garnish (optional): Add frozen strawberries as natural ice cubes and garnish with fresh strawberries or mint leaves to enhance the presentation and flavor.
Notes
- Use family-size tea bags for robust flavor and easier brewing.
- Adjust sugar to taste if you prefer less or more sweetness.
- Frozen strawberries double as ice cubes without watering down the tea.
- For a stronger tea flavor, steep tea bags longer but avoid bitterness.
- Straining strawberry juice removes seeds and pulp, making the tea smooth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Keywords: Southern sweet tea, strawberry iced tea, summer drinks, refreshing beverage, fruit-infused tea
