Macadamia Free Classic Sweet Iced Tea
Few drinks hit quite like a tall glass of sweet iced tea on a warm afternoon, and this from-scratch version is the real deal. It starts with a concentrated brew of black tea bags steeped in boiling water, then gets sweetened while still hot so the sugar dissolves completely and every sip is perfectly balanced. Cutting the concentrate with cold water keeps the flavor smooth and never bitter, and chilling it down before serving means it's ready to pour over a big pile of ice whenever the craving strikes. Lemon slices and fresh mint make it feel a little fancy, but honestly it's just as satisfying straight from the glass. Since this is made entirely from tea, water, and sugar, there's zero guesswork about what's in it — no store-bought blends, no mystery additives, just clean and classic Southern-style refreshment.
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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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