Southern Sweet Tea
Homemade Southern Sweet Tea is the house wine of the south. This recipe comes out perfect every single time thanks to a simple tip.
Perfect Sweet Iced Tea Every Time
Every gal in the south has their own way of making sweet tea. We’re pretty proud about it too. Around my house we like our tea strong and sweet. So if you ever have trouble getting your tea just right each and every time, give this recipe a try!
Frequently Asked Questions
In our opinion, this is perfectly sweetened. It’s what everyone I know loves and my tea pitcher is always empty minutes after I serve it at a BBQ. This recipe is more of a concept on how to make sweet tea, so you can add as little or as much as you like it. If you’ve ever had Chick-fil-A’s sweet tea then that is the sweetness level of this tea.
Please know you are dealing with very hot, boiling water here. Please, for the love of all things precious, use common sense. If you are concerned at all you might accidentally scald or burn yourself because you are unsteady (or are just clumsy or whatever the case might be), please do not make this recipe. I put a HEAT SAFE pitcher into my sink, then very slowly and careful pour the water. I also use oven mitts to hold the handles of the pot to make sure I have a good and firm grip on the pot. Check the manufacturer’s label first if you are unsure if your pitcher is boiling water safe.
NOTE: As an alternative (I haven’t personally attempted this) you could also steep the tea bags right in the pot on the stove. I haven’t tried it myself because the pot is still very hot and I would worry I would burn the tea. But if you want to try it, I would make sure the pot is not on the heat anymore and make sure the tea bags are not touching the pot directly to avoid burning the tea.
Also, please see my Disclaimer page if you need more clarity on all of that.
You don’t have to add this ingredient if you are going to drink all your sweet day within a day that you made it. Tea only gets a bit bitter if it has been hanging out in the fridge for too long (more than a day) or if you let the tea bags soak for a bit too long. If you aren’t going to drink it that quickly, the baking soda is going to help it from going bitter too quickly if it sits in the fridge for 2 or 3 days.
You can substitute Splenda for the sugar, if you prefer. I have never made it with a sugar substitute so I can’t say exactly how it changes the taste.
Yes. It eventually gets a sour taste. The baking soda does help extend the life of the sweet tea but it will eventually “go off.” Sweet Tea is best consumed within the first 48 hours of when you made it. Keep sweet tea stored in the refrigerator.
Ingredients Needed: (Full Recipe At The Bottom Of The Post)
- family size tea bags – I prefer Luzianne or Lipton but use whatever brand you enjoy.
- sugar – I have personally never made it with a sugar substitute, but as I said above, I am sure a 1:1 sugar substitute like Splenda would work. Please adjust the sugar to your personal preferences. This is just ours.
- water – tap water works fine. If you have filtered water – even better!
- baking soda – see my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) above on why this is added. It is optional but I prefer to add it.
How To Make Southern Sweet Tea
Boil the water
Boil only ½ gallon of the water on stove. Once water comes to a roiling boil, turn off heat, then pour into a heat resistant (boiling water safe) gallon size pitcher. Obviously, it goes without saying to be careful here since you’re dealing with boiling water. I usually put the pitcher in the sink, then carefully and slowly pour the water in.
Add tea bags
Add 3 tea bags and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (you don’t need to stir.) Set your kitchen timer (I use my microwave) for 15 minutes.
Add sugar
After 15 minutes, take out tea bags. Do not squish tea bags before taking them out, just let them drip for a minute. If you squeeze, you’re likely to get some tea leaves in your drink. Add sugar and stir.
Add cold water
Add the other ½ gallon of cold water to the pitcher and stir again.
Chill completely before serving
Chill in the refrigerator for several hours before serving.
Craving More Recipes?
Southern Sweet Tea
Ingredients
- 3 family size tea bags
- 2 cups sugar (see notes below)
- 1 gallon water (divided use)
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Boil ½ gallon of the water on stove in a pot. Once water comes to a roiling boil, turn the heat off. Then (using oven mitts to grab the handles of the pot) pour into a one gallon, heat resistant (boiling water safe) pitcher. TIP: I usually put the pitcher into the sink, then very carefully and slowly pour the water into it so it doesn't tip over, etc.NOTE: Obviously be very careful here, you're dealing with boiling water. If you are unsure if your pitcher is safe for boiling water, please check the manufacturers label or instructions. See my additional notes below.
- Add 3 family-size tea bags and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda (you don’t need to stir) to the pitcher. Just make sure the bags are submerged in the water.
- Set your kitchen timer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, take out tea bags. Do not squish tea bags before taking them out, just let them drip for a minute.
- Add sugar and stir.
- Add the other ½ gallon of cold water to the pitcher and stir again.
- Chill completely in the refrigerator for several hours then serve in a glass with ice.
Video
Notes
- We like our tea sweet, but you can certainly cut down on the sugar if you prefer. I am showing just you how my family and friends enjoys it. You do what you prefer, obviously.
- When you make tea, you are dealing with hot water so please be a smart, common sense individual and take precautions to be safe and to not get hot or boiling water on your skin. If you are concerned at all that this might happen to you, please do not make this recipe. Also, if you are unsure if your pitcher can handle boiling water, check the manufacturer’s label first.
- NOTE: I haven’t attempted this but you may be able to steep the tea bags right in the pot on the stove. I haven’t tried it myself because the pot is still very hot and I would worry I would burn the tea. But if you want to try it, make sure the pot is not on the heat anymore and make sure the tea bags are not touching the pot directly to avoid burning.
- This makes one gallon of sweet tea.
- Baking soda takes any of the bitterness out of your tea.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: January 2011
Updated photos & republished: July 2023
This isn’t that sweet…. I followed this recipe exactly how it said and the people saying it is super sweet or overly sweet clearly aren’t from the south!
I give this sweet tea recipe 5 stars because it is good, but too sweet for my taste (my husband and I have been cutting back on our sugar so we are not used to sweet drinks). I will just cut back on the sugar a bit. But I think the baking soda was a great idea. The tea flavor is wonderful and not bitter at all. My grandmother was British and she served sweet tea (which she called Iced tea) all the time when I was growing up. It brings back sweet memories. Thanks for your recipe.
I think sweet tea is definitely one of those things that you have to adjust the sugar to what you enjoy. I compare this sweet tea to the kind you get at Chick-fil-A to help explain the level of sweetness. And I think if you’ve really cut back on sugar, I can see how it would come across as very sweet for sure. I am so happy you enjoyed it and thanks so much for sharing the sweet memory of your Grandmother. I lived in Britain for 3 years myself and they would nearly gag when I brought in my cold sweet tea to work. Ha! I eventually convinced a couple of them to try and they (very slowly) learned to enjoy it 🙂
Before I go too crazy drinking the tea, is the 33gms of sugar for the entire gallon or for one glass? Since I am only allowed 25gms per day, I need to know. Thanks.
Hi Rosemary! The nutritional calculator on here calculates these recipes automatically. I would not use it for health and dietary purposes. I would use your own trusted nutritional calculator for that. I believe it is showing 33 grams for a cup and half (so about 12 ounces).
Hi Brandie, I listen to videos of Brenda Gant, who is a southern Alabama cook in FB. She is always making and talking about sweet tea, so I decided to make some. I found your recipe and just trying it for the first time. I happen to have Luzianne teabags, which here in Michigan can be found at Meijer. Two cups of sugar seems awful sweet, but I will do it. Will let you know how it turns out. Thanks!
I tried this with about 1¼ cups of Equal Sugarly. Came out very sweet. I’ll tone this batch by adding a couple single tea bags. When I go to make my next batch, I’ll make it with ¾ cup of Equal Sugarly and see how it goes. Thanks for the great recipe. TTFN
First, I’m a northerner and have never tryed this. I guess I might as well be from Britian. Anyway, I only have one question, what kind of tea? Do you use any brand of black tea? I favorite cuppa tea is Earl Grey which is a black tea. Would that do? What do you suggest?
Hi Don! Good question! You definitely don’t want to use Earl Grey. While it’s a great, warm sipping tea, it doesn’t translate well to being served cold. The best way to make this is the simplest, get Lipton family sized bags or Luzianne family sized tea bags. Lipton is pretty much available everywhere in the US and is a black tea and Luzianne is a little harder to find outside of the south & is orange pekoe tea. I hope that helps!
Don – I make my tea using Brandie’s recipe – but I also add 2 Earl Grey tea bags to the family size tea bags while steeping and it is really good!
I live in South Mississippi and have been trying for at least 20 years to make really good Sweet tea and have failed every time.. Tried your recipe and its amazing!! My kids and husband will drink it now lol.. Thank you so much!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥
I know us southerners are very picky about our sweet tea – ha! So it truly means so much when another southerner likes my recipe. You made my day Alisha – thank you!!
my mom taught us at a very young age , around 6 r 7 to make Sweet tea. her recipe is pretty much dead on to this one! everyone l8ved her sweet tea, it’s hard fir me to give Virginia credit over Mississippi! cause I feel we have the best sweet tea in the world! yes, lessen the sugar if your diabetic or if it doesn’t suit your sweet taste buds:
Amen to that Janice – thank you!
100% Perfect Southern ice tea.
Thanks so much Larry!
I was raised in the Deep South but live in a city now, haven’t had sweet tea in years. That’s not saying a lot considering I’m only 24 though, lol!
Found this recipe and was amazed. It’s so good, and brings back so many memories of better and simpler times living in the middle of nowhere with most of my family in our huge family home. Hot summer days, packing lunch to go to the river, family dinners… I could go on. Amazing how flavors trigger specific parts of our brain and bring back floods of memories. Thank you for the recipe <3
I always put baking soda in my sweet tea, it helps it not to get cloudy too. Oh And I love sweet tea.
I am a diabetic can I use an artificial sweetener instead of the sugar?
i
This tea is the best I have ever made. It is perfectly sweet and has such a good flavor. Definitely will be making this again! Thank you for posting it!
Love sweet tea.
I USE BAKING SODA IN EVERYTHING! COLLARDS, OTHER GREENS, BEANS, TEA, WATER AND MY LEMONADE- DOES GET RID OF HARSH BITTERNESS AND BAKING SODA(1/4 TSP IN 20 OZ WATER OR 1/2 C IN A GALLON) STEEPED IN HOT WATER ADDING SLICED LEMON AND ITS JUICE HELPS ALKALINE THE BODY AND DRAMATICALLY DECREASING THE CHANCES OF ILLNESS OR FLU. I DO THE 20 OZ BOTTLE OF WATER EVERY DAY AND I HAVENT HAD THE FLU IN 16 YEARS AND NO FLU SHOT(NEVER)
Thanks so much for commenting Sheri!! I’m going to try it in lemonade next time too!
Very easy to make and no bitterness. Excellent!
Thank you so very much Michelle! I really appreciate you coming back and taking the time to review!
Best recipe for sweet tea. Tastes just like what I get at Chick fil A!
I have often added a sprig of fresh mint when brewing ice tea for a mild minty fresh flavor. You don't need much. For a gallon, perhaps 2 or 3. The mint wilts, but it doesn't disintegrate, so you can pick it right out.
Thanks for the great tips about baking soda – that was one I had never heard of.before. I definitely plan on using it in beans too as you suggested. Thanks again.
I never heard of baking soda in tea. I am curious what does that do?
It reduces any bitterness 🙂
I didn’t know about the baking soda thing, I will have to try to it! I also use my coffee pot to make the tea to speed up the process!
I am 50 years old and have never used baking soda in my tea. My husband doesn’t like “fresh” tea. He says it’s better the next day. He can always tell if it’s newly made. My question is… Does Baking soda remedy this? We live in North Carolina and I make close to 6 gallons of sweetened iced tea weekly. BTW I only use 1.5 cups of sugar and 2 family sized teabags. I also use your method of boiling 1/2 of the gallon but I add the sugar and tea bags to the water while it’s boiling. I let it sit for about 1/2 hour before removing the bags and then add it to the rest of the gallon.
Hi Laura! For me, sweet tea is only really good for about 3 days (max) but the baking soda takes out that bitterness that sometimes occurs after the first day you make it. When you add the tea bags to the water while it’s boiling – that can also make it go bitter even faster since it’s hard on the tea leaves. Hope that helps! 🙂
While very unusual, I am a Canadian who has loved southern sweet tea from a young age. After making this recipe with 3/4 cup sugar, it is fantastic – just sweet enough – and it brings back memories of some of my favourite US vacations. Thanks so much!!
That is wonderful! Funny how things that are so simple bring back so many wonderful memories. So glad it turned out well for you.
Would this work with sun tea? Rather than boiling the water, letting it sit in the sun all day, then adding the baking soda? Think I will give it a try next summer, but for now (December) & I will give this a try
D. Ruthart
My husband and I are sweet tea drinkers, I make mine with 2 Lipton family size tea bags, I am trying it with baking soda. Thank you for the tip.
Love the recipes….all of them! Keep up the good work!
Anonymous- baking soda helps to take out any bitterness in the tea. 🙂
Jeanette – I am just so happy to hear that. You know, I hesitated to share this as a recipe because I thought everyone is so picky about how they make their tea and no one wants another tea recipe. But then I had a couple of friends ask me how I make mine, I realized that some folks might want to know but don't always think to ask. So that's why I shared. I am so happy it turned out good for you! ~Brandie
I've made this a few times now, in fact I'm making some right now 🙂 I grew up in Michigan and was not aware of sweet tea, but fell in love with it when I went on vacation to the South. Thank you for posting the recipe so that I can make it myself 🙂
Howdy!! 🙂
I'm a Southern girl who LOVES Sweet Tea….. can you tell me why the Baking Soda???
I use this same recipe to make Sweet Tea. I am not from the south, but we lived in Georgia for a few years where my kids learned to love sweet tea. They were always begging me to make it so I found this same recipe on food.com
One day I had a friend over (a life-long Georgian) made fun of me because I had to follow a recipe to make sweet tea and then said it was the best tea she'd ever had!
'Just wanted to check back in and let you know I made the sweet tea today!
I used 5 regular Lipton hot tea bags and 1 cup of sugar (I only have a 2-quart container).
HUGE hit! Mommy group loved it, and so does my husband.
Many, many thanks. I have a feeling I will be making it again and again.
:0)
Hi Bree It really depends on the brand of tea you are using. Different types of teas come in different strength levels. If you are using regular-sized Luzianne tea bags, I would say use about 5 regular-sized bags. But keep in mind, not all brands are made alike. Some are a bit weaker in taste than others. I'm not usually real brand-loyal with most products but with tea – you want a good full-flavor. So if you can't find Luzianne, I would suggest Lipton tea bags that are made for iced tea (not the cool brew bags) but the ones specially made for iced tea. Hope that helps! 🙂
What if one does not have "family sized" tea bags?
About how many regular tea bags would I need to use to get the same result?
My husband LOVES sweet tea, but I have never even thought of making it myself. I am anxious to try this!
Thanks!
Luzianne tea is sooooooo much better than Lipton! I made the change over about 5 years ago and I still have family members (that are devout Lipton users) comment how good my sweet tea is. I'm going to try the baking soda in my next pot of tea this evening and see if anyone notices. I've never done that before but I'm always open to change!
I'm from Georgia and now live in NC so sweet tea is included as one of our food groups. I've never tried the baking soda but will give that one a try.
Thanks
Martha
I don't remember seeing this post before and I Love sweet tea I have to say that we make it the same way except for the baking soda which I will be using for sure!
I grew up on this tea It's a staple:)
Thanks so much!!
Love you blog:)
I just have to try this! I LOVE SWEET TEE! so excited 🙂
Renee – thank you so much for coming back and letting me know that you enjoyed it! It is SO nice to hear that recipes I'm posting are being enjoyed – it makes it all worth it :o)
I just made this sweet tea – delicious!
Your tea looks so good….wish I had some right now! Just a note ~ I have put baking soda in my coffee before to take out the bitter taste!
oh My grandmother used to add baking soda and had the clearest sweet tea around! another trick to non bitter tea is dont scorch the sugar , let the tea cool down some before adding the sugar and it wont be bitter or scorched.
Yum! I love iced tea. I never heard about the baking soda addition. This afternoon I will try it when I make a batch. Your website looks great by the way. You have come a long way.
Looks very pretty….love the ice tea and the serving jug….so cute:)
Wow, you just started your blog? It looks fantastic and so many recipes already. I started mine in December and it still doesn't look so great and I'm always working on it. It IS a TON of work and I'm so busy with my teenagers it's hard to keep up. I haven't written something about why I'm blogging yet, but want to and hopefully will soon. Anyway . . . I love the background! Looking forward to sharing with you.
Gosh, I didn't realize you were such a new blogger! You're doing great (and for a non-techy, I'm impressed that you have your name on your photos!). Looking forward to many more years of your posts 🙂
Thank you so much Becky and little j. I have to say everyone's comments (especially from other bloggers) has been so kind and supportive. I really feel fortunate to be connecting with people through food.
Congratulations on your blog. Looks like you are off to a great start. I must say that blogging is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun, and you "meet" the most amazing, caring people:)
I have always wanted to try some sweet tea! I'll definitely give this recipe a try. Looks like your blog is off to a great start!! 🙂
Nothing any better then sitting on front porch in a swing in the evening ,sipping sweet tea and talking about the day ……That is what the world needs is more porches ,swings and sweet tea ! !Be a beautiful world it would be…..????
Totally agree Carolyn! Truer words have never been spoken!!
You r so right honey. Sitting there after Church is an amazing time to
I’m a Texas girl living in California and I just put up my porch swing. Getting ready to make this recipe and excited to get back to those southern memories.
Wow, I have never heard of adding baking soda! My mom taught me to add a few cloves when you are steeping the tea, I have no idea where she learned to do that! I have learned that well water equals clear sweet tea while city water equals cloudy. Filtering the water makes all the difference! Good luck with your blog, it can be overwhelming but you'll figure it out!
very nice..being as that I'm originally from florida a few orange slices are great too in sweet Tea..
YESSSS!!!