Seattle Post Intelligencer – Seattle, WA, USA
While many iced teas are made by steeping tea leaves in cool or sun-warmed water, the authentic sweet teas of the South are made by brewing black tea in boiling water.
SOUTHERN SWEET TEA
Makes: 1 gallon
- 12 bags black tea
- 6 cups boiling water, plus additional cold water
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups sugar
- Ice
- Lemon wedges or fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Place the tea bags in a large heat-proof 1-gallon pitcher. Add the boiling water and steep for 5 minutes. Spoon out the tea bags and squeeze them into the tea, then discard the tea bags. Stir in 1 cup sugar. Add enough cold water to fill the pitcher. Taste and adjust with remaining sugar as desired.
To serve, pour into ice-filled glasses, then garnish with lemon wedges or fresh mint.
(Recipe adapted from Southern Living magazine)
