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Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

A refreshing, perfectly sweetened adaptation of classic Southern sweet tea, infused with fresh macerated strawberries for an extra fruity kick.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 8 glasses
Course: Beverage, Summer Drink
Cuisine: American, Southern
Calories: 15012
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Tea Concentrate
  • 8 bags Black Tea Bags (e.g., Lipton or Luzianne) Use high-quality tea for best flavor.
  • 4 cups Boiling Water
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar
For the Strawberry Infusion
  • 1 pint Fresh Strawberries Hulled and sliced
  • 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar For macerating
For Serving
  • 6 cups Cold Water Or more, to taste, for dilution
  • 1 gallon pitcher capacity Ensure pitcher is large enough
  • As needed Ice
  • To garnish Lemon slices

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Prepare the Strawberry Maceration: In a medium bowl, combine the sliced strawberries with 1/4 cup of sugar. Gently toss to coat. Let the strawberries sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes while preparing the tea, allowing the sugar to draw out the juices.
  2. Brew the Tea Concentrate: Place the 8 tea bags into a heat-safe pitcher or large bowl. Pour 4 cups of boiling water over the tea bags. Let steep for exactly 5 minutes (do not over-steep, or the tea will become bitter). Remove and discard the tea bags, squeezing them gently.
  3. Sweeten the Concentrate: While the tea is still hot, stir in 1 cup of granulated sugar until it is completely dissolved. This hot sweetening process prevents graininess.
  4. Combine and Chill: Add the 6 cups of cold water to the sweet tea concentrate. Stir well. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until fully chilled.
  5. Infuse the Tea: Once the tea is cold, gently pour the macerated strawberries and their collected syrup into the pitcher of cold sweet tea. Stir lightly.
  6. Serve: Fill tall glasses completely with ice. Pour the strawberry sweet tea over the ice, ensuring each glass gets some strawberry pieces. Garnish with fresh lemon slices, if desired.

Notes

For an even stronger strawberry flavor, you can lightly mash the strawberries before adding them to the tea. Adjust the initial sugar amount based on your preference for 'Southern Sweetness'—traditional recipes use a full 2 cups of sugar per gallon.