Southern-Style Iced Sweet Tea (Using Loose Leaf Tea)

配料

Ingredients:

Loose leaf black tea – 2 tablespoons (about 6-8 grams), preferably Assam, Ceylon, or Darjeeling for traditional flavor

Water – 4 cups (for brewing) + 2 cups (cold for dilution)

Sugar – ½ to 1 cup, depending on sweetness preference

Ice – Plenty!

Optional – Lemon slices, fresh mint

🫖 Equipment:

Tea infuser, strainer, or French press

Heat-safe pitcher or large mason jar

🔧 Instructions:

Boil the Water

Bring 4 cups of water to a near boil (around 200°F / 93°C).

Brew the Tea

Add 2 tablespoons of loose leaf black tea to your infuser, strainer, or French press.

Pour the hot water over the tea leaves and steep for 5–7 minutes (longer = stronger and slightly more tannic).

Sweeten It

While still hot, stir in ½ to 1 cup of sugar until fully dissolved.

Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.

Cool Down

Remove tea leaves.

Add 2 cups of cold water to dilute and bring to a milder drinking temperature.

Let the mixture cool to room temp, then refrigerate for at least 1–2 hours.

Serve

Fill glasses with ice.

Pour chilled sweet tea over ice.

Garnish with lemon or mint if desired.

🔄 Optional Variations:

Less caffeine: Use a decaf black tea.

Flavored tea: Add a pinch of dried lavender, orange peel, or a cinnamon stick while brewing.

Herbal version: Use rooibos instead of black tea.