Gallon Sweet Tea Recipe

Brew concentrated tea

Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil. Place 8 black tea bags in a heatproof pitcher or heatproof bowl. Pour the 4 cups of boiling water over the tea bags, fully submerging them. Let steep for 6 minutes for a full-bodied flavor (up to 8 minutes if you prefer stronger).

After steeping, remove the tea bags, gently pressing them against the side of the pitcher with a spoon to extract flavor (do not squeeze too hard to avoid bitterness). Allow the brewed tea to cool slightly while you prepare the simple syrup.

Pour the brewed tea into a clean 1-gallon container or pitcher. Add 12 cups of cold water to the brewed tea and stir to combine.

Make simple syrup

In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup hot water. Heat gently over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the liquid is clear (do not boil). Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Stir the cooled simple syrup into the brewed tea and cold water mixture. Taste and adjust sweetness: add up to 1/4 cup more sugar dissolved in a little hot water if you like it sweeter, or dilute with additional cold water if too sweet.

If serving immediately over ice, fill glasses with ice and pour the sweet tea over. Garnish individual servings with lemon slices and/or a sprig of fresh mint, if desired.

To chill and serve later, refrigerate the gallon of sweet tea until cold. Add ice to glasses as you serve to avoid watering down the entire gallon. Store refrigerated for up to 3–4 days.