Xanthan Gum Free Classic Sweet Iced Tea
Sweet, refreshing, and deeply satisfying, this classic Southern-style iced tea is the kind of drink that disappears fast on a warm afternoon. The sugar dissolves directly into the hot concentrate, so every sip is perfectly balanced without any grainy sweetness at the bottom of the glass. For anyone navigating ingredient sensitivities, this recipe is naturally free of thickeners and stabilizers — just tea, water, and sugar doing exactly what they're supposed to do. No store-bought bottled teas with mysterious additives, no powdered mixes with lengthy ingredient panels to decode. Steeping the bags without squeezing them keeps the flavor smooth and clean rather than bitter, which makes a real difference in the final glass. A squeeze of lemon or a few sprigs of fresh mint at serving time adds a bright, garden-fresh finish that feels a little fancy with zero extra effort.
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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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