Description
A refreshing Southern favorite with a fruity twist, this Strawberry Sweet Tea is made with strong black tea and homemade strawberry syrup. It’s perfectly sweetened, tangy from lemon, and chilled over ice for the ultimate summer drink.
Ingredients
1 pound fresh strawberries
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water (for syrup)
4 family-sized black tea bags (or 12 regular-sized)
4 cups boiling water
4 cups cold water
1 lemon, juiced
Ice, for serving
Instructions
1. Hull and slice the fresh strawberries.
2. In a saucepan, combine strawberries, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the strawberries are soft and syrupy.
4. Strain the syrup using a fine mesh sieve and let it cool.
5. In a separate pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add the tea bags and steep for 10 minutes.
6. Remove the tea bags and allow the brewed tea to cool slightly.
7. In a large pitcher, combine the brewed tea, cooled strawberry syrup, and lemon juice.
8. Add 4 cups of cold water. Stir to combine and taste to adjust sweetness.
9. Chill in the refrigerator or serve immediately over ice.
10. Garnish with strawberry slices or lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
Make the syrup ahead of time and refrigerate—it saves time and enhances the flavor.
For a sparkling twist, add a splash of soda water right before serving.
Use decaf tea for a caffeine-free version that’s still full of flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: sweet tea, summer drinks, strawberry recipes