BHA & BHT Free Classic Sweet Iced Tea
Few drinks feel as genuinely refreshing as a tall glass of sweet iced tea, and this from-scratch version delivers that classic Southern comfort without any of the preservatives lurking in bottled or powdered alternatives. BHA and BHT are synthetic antioxidants commonly added to packaged beverages and flavored drink mixes to extend shelf life, so brewing your own is one of the easiest ways to sidestep them entirely. The ingredient list here is beautifully simple — just water, black tea bags, and granulated sugar — so you know exactly what's going into your glass. Steeping the bags in boiling water and dissolving the sugar while the tea is still hot gives you a smooth, evenly sweetened concentrate that blends perfectly with cold water. The result is a pitcher of tea that's clean, bright, and deeply satisfying. A squeeze of lemon or a few sprigs of fresh mint at serving time adds a little extra flair without complicating anything.
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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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