Gallon Sweet/unsweet Tea Recipe

Time2h 45m

Serves16

Make Gallon Sweet/unsweet Tea Recipe in just 2h 45m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

1
Bring water to a boil
Pour about 2 cups of the gallon water into a kettle or pot and bring to a full boil. Remove from heat.
2
Steep the tea
Place the 6 black tea bags (or the loose-leaf equivalent in a large infuser) in a heatproof pitcher or large heatproof container. Pour the boiling water over the tea to bloom it, then immediately add the remaining cool water from the gallon to bring the temperature down and fill the pitcher to the 1-gallon mark. If using only one vessel, pour all boiling water over the tea bags and then add cold water or ice to achieve 1 gallon total volume. Cover and steep for 5 to 10 minutes for standard strength; steep 10 to 15 minutes for a stronger brew. Do not oversteep beyond 15 minutes to avoid excessive bitterness.
3
Remove tea bags / strain
After steeping, remove and gently squeeze the tea bags against the side of the pitcher (if desired) or remove the infuser and discard tea leaves. If you used loose leaf without an infuser, strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean pitcher.

4
Sweeten while hot (recommended)
If making sweet tea, stir the granulated sugar into the hot brewed tea until fully dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Dissolving while the tea is hot prevents graininess. If you prefer, use 1 cup of ready-made simple syrup instead of granulated sugar; add it and stir to combine.
5
Adjust sweetness
Taste and adjust sweetness. For less sweet, start with 3/4 cup sugar (or 3/4 cup simple syrup). For very sweet, increase up to 1 1/2 cups sugar. Remember sweetness will be less pronounced when served over ice.
6
For unsweet tea
If making unsweet tea, skip this entire section and proceed to chilling and serving.

7
Chill
Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours (overnight is best). You can speed-chill by adding a few cups of ice to the pitcher, but account for the meltwater diluting flavor.
8
Garnish and serve
When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice (about 1 cup per glass). Pour the chilled tea over ice. Add a slice of fresh lemon to each glass and garnish with mint sprigs if desired. For a subtle citrus infusion, add a few lemon slices into the pitcher 15–30 minutes before serving.