Sweet Tea Recipe
Make Sweet Tea Recipe in just 1h 30m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.
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Ingredients
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Tea Base
Sweetener
Finish & Serving
Method
Tea Base
Brew the tea
Bring 8 cups of fresh water to a full boil. Remove from heat and add 6 black tea bags (or 2 tablespoons loose-leaf in an infuser). Steep for 5 to 7 minutes for a robust flavor; steep up to 10 minutes for stronger tea. Avoid over-steeping beyond 10 minutes to reduce bitterness.
After steeping, remove tea bags or strain out loose leaves. Do not squeeze the tea bags — discard them to avoid bitterness.
Sweetener
Make simple syrup
While the tea is steeping (or immediately after), place 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup hot water in a heatproof measuring cup or small saucepan. Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved to make a simple syrup. This ensures even sweetness without grainy sugar settling.
Let the syrup cool slightly (2 to 3 minutes) so it won’t overly heat the brewed tea when combined.
Finish & Serving
Combine and cool
Pour the brewed tea into a large pitcher. Stir in the prepared simple syrup until fully incorporated. Add 6 cups cold water to the pitcher and stir. Taste and adjust: if you prefer sweeter tea, add up to 1/4 cup more simple syrup; for stronger flavor, add 1 to 2 more tea bags steeped in 1 cup boiling water and cooled.
Chill
Refrigerate the sweet tea for at least 1 to 2 hours until well chilled. For faster cooling, add a generous amount of ice when serving, but keep in mind ice will dilute the tea as it melts.
Leftovers: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Stir before serving; add fresh ice as needed.