Citrus Free Classic Sweet Iced Tea
Sweet, refreshing, and deeply satisfying, this classic Southern-style iced tea is the kind of drink that disappears fast at any gathering. Strong black tea gets steeped just long enough to develop rich flavor, then sweetened while still hot so the sugar dissolves completely into every sip — no grainy residue, just smooth sweetness all the way through. The recipe calls for lemon slices as an optional garnish, which means you can simply leave them out and still have a perfectly complete, beautiful glass of tea. That makes this a genuinely easy win for anyone avoiding citrus, since the core recipe relies on nothing more than water, tea bags, and sugar. It's the kind of drink that proves simplicity is everything — no fancy syrups, no mystery additives, just honest iced tea done right. Make a big pitcher, keep it cold in the fridge, and watch it become the most requested thing you make all summer.
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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)
Can be omittedlemon
- 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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