Description
A refreshing homemade Strawberry Sweet Tea combining brewed black tea with a homemade strawberry syrup, sweetened to perfection. Perfect for summer gatherings or a cool, fruity beverage any time of year.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 2 cups water
- 8 black tea bags
- 4 cups water
- 1 tsp baking soda
Strawberry Syrup
- 2 cups water
- 4 cups strawberries, chopped
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
Instructions
- Boil Water: Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
- Steep Tea: Remove from heat and add the 8 black tea bags to the hot water. Steep for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags, squeezing out any excess tea.
- Mix Tea Base: Transfer the brewed tea into a large pitcher, add 4 cups of additional cold water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Stir gently.
- Simmer Strawberries: In the same saucepan, add the remaining 2 cups of water, 4 cups of chopped strawberries, and 1½ cups granulated sugar. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes, allowing the sugar to dissolve and the strawberries to release their flavor.
- Cool and Strain Syrup: Remove the strawberry syrup from heat and let it cool slightly. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a small cup or pitcher, pressing to extract as much juice as possible.
- Combine Syrup and Tea: Add the strained strawberry syrup to the large pitcher with the tea and stir well to combine.
- Serve: Pour the strawberry sweet tea over ice in individual glasses and serve immediately.
Notes
- Store the strawberry sweet tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week to maintain freshness.
- For a less sweet option, reduce the sugar by half for a fruitier taste.
- Add lemon juice for a zesty twist that brightens the flavor.
- Use very ripe strawberries for the most intense strawberry flavor, ideally in summer when strawberries are juiciest.
- Start with cold water for brewing tea to prevent cloudiness caused by tannins.
- Do not over-steep the tea to avoid bitterness; 5 minutes is ideal.
- Add ice to each glass instead of the pitcher to prevent diluting the tea before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
