Artificial Food Coloring Free Classic Sweet Iced Tea
Sweet, refreshing, and made entirely from scratch, this classic Southern-style iced tea is the kind of drink that belongs on every porch and picnic table. Many bottled and powdered tea mixes sneak in artificial dyes or synthetic flavor enhancers to boost color and appeal, but this version skips all of that — the gorgeous amber hue comes purely from properly steeped black tea. Dissolving the sugar directly into the hot concentrate means every sip is perfectly balanced, no gritty sweetness at the bottom of the glass. The simple two-step brew — a hot concentrate finished with cold water — keeps the flavor smooth and never bitter. Lemon slices and fresh mint make for a beautiful, naturally colorful garnish that keeps things just as clean as the rest of the recipe. It's the kind of homemade staple that, once you make it yourself, you'll never want to reach for a store-bought bottle again.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 8 cups water, divided
- 6 black tea bags (such as lipton or luzianne)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
For serving
- ice, for serving
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 4 cups of the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags without squeezing them.
- 2
While the tea is still hot, add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved, about 1 minute.
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