Black Pepper Free Classic Sweet Iced Tea
Sweet, refreshing, and endlessly satisfying, this classic Southern-style iced tea is the kind of drink that makes a hot afternoon feel instantly more manageable. The sugar dissolves right into the hot concentrate, giving you that perfectly smooth sweetness in every sip — no graininess, no guesswork. For anyone avoiding black pepper, this is one of those recipes that's naturally a safe bet, since spice has no business being anywhere near a proper glass of iced tea anyway. It's made with just water, tea bags, and sugar, so there's zero concern about hidden seasonings or blended spice mixes sneaking in. A squeeze of lemon or a sprig of fresh mint on top takes it from simple to genuinely special without adding any complexity to the prep. Brew it, chill it, and pour it over a tall glass of ice — that's really all there is to it.
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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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