Chicken Free Southern Sweet Iced Tea
Few drinks capture the spirit of a long, lazy afternoon quite like a tall glass of sweet iced tea. This classic Southern version is built on just three pantry staples — water, black tea bags, and sugar — so there is nothing standing between you and a perfectly chilled pitcher. The method is simple but thoughtful: steeping the bags without squeezing them keeps the brew smooth and mellow rather than bitter, and dissolving the sugar into the hot concentrate means every sip is evenly sweet from top to bottom. Once it's cooled and poured over a glass packed with ice, you can dress it up with a bright lemon slice or a sprig of fresh mint for that extra touch of Southern hospitality. It's the kind of drink that feels effortless to make and genuinely impressive to serve, whether you're hosting a backyard gathering or just treating yourself on a weeknight.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 8 cup water
- 6 black tea bags (family-size or regular)
- 1 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 water to a full boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 5 minutes. Remove and discard the tea bags without squeezing them — squeezing releases bitter tannins.
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