Yields: 1 gallon | Cook time: 18 minutes
I always like to have a pitcher of sweet tea in the fridge. It costs pennies to make and is arguably better for you to drink than soda. So, win win? Here’s how I make it:
What you’ll need:
- 12 black tea bags
- 12 cups of water, cooled
- 4 cups of water, scalding
- 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar (give or take, depending on your preference)
How to make it:
- Place a pitcher with 12 cups of water in the fridge to begin cooling (ensure your pitcher can hold at least another 4 cups of liquid)
- Heat 4 cups of water in a small saucepan until scalding (just before the boiling point – when you see the bottom of the pan is covered in small bubbles and is just barely simmering, you’re in a good spot)
- Remove pan from the heat
- Mix in the baking soda
- Add the tea bags to the pan, cover with the lid and allow to steep for at least 15 minutes
- After 15 minutes, remove the tea bags from the pan, squeeze any excess liquid out of the bags and discard
- Stir in the sugar – Make sure it FULLY dissolves before moving on to the next step
- Add the steeped tea into your pitcher of cooled water
- Stir to combine
- Allow to cool before serving
It’s just that easy! The sugar content may vary based on your preference. I recommend starting with 1 and 1/4 cup if you don’t like it to be too sweet, and then if you later decide you’d like to add more sweetness, create a simple syrup (1 part hot water mixed with 1 part sugar) and add that into your tea. If you attempt to mix in granulated sugar into your cooled tea, it will not dissolve properly.
