Description
A refreshing Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea recipe combining brewed black tea with fresh strawberry juice and just the right amount of sweetness. Perfect for warm days, this vibrant iced tea is easy to make and can be garnished with fresh mint and strawberries for an extra touch of elegance.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea
- 4-5 family-size tea bags (such as Luzianne)
- 6 cups water, divided
Strawberry Juice
- 4 cups ripe strawberries (makes about 1 cup of juice)
Sweetener
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Garnish (optional)
- Frozen or fresh strawberries
- Fresh mint
Instructions
- Brew the Tea: In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Let the tea steep for 10 minutes to extract rich flavor, then discard the tea bags.
- Prepare the Strawberries: While the tea steeps, dice the ripe strawberries and puree them in a food processor until smooth.
- Strain the Strawberry Puree: Pour the pureed strawberries through a mesh strainer into a bowl, separating the juice from the pulp. Reserve the juice and discard the pulp.
- Combine Tea, Strawberry Juice, and Sugar: In a large pitcher, mix the brewed tea, strawberry juice, and granulated sugar. Stir thoroughly until the sugar completely dissolves.
- Add Cold Water and Chill: Add the remaining 4 cups of cold water to the pitcher, stir well to combine, then refrigerate the tea until thoroughly chilled.
- Serve: Pour the strawberry sweet iced tea over ice cubes. Garnish with frozen or fresh strawberries and fresh mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing flavor.
Notes
- Use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavor.
- Adjust sugar quantity to taste for a less sweet or sweeter tea.
- The tea can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated to let flavors meld.
- For a stronger tea, steep the tea bags longer but avoid bitterness.
- This recipe serves 6 and is perfect for hot summer days or gatherings.
