Sweet Tea

[dixie_belle]

Every year we have the local high school kids come out to tour our solar panels. And every year, I feed them. We love having them out here and answering their questions. But now I have a question. Typically, I have lemonade, water and sprite for them to drink. However, I've noticed up here that everyone drinks sweet tea. Now, I don't like sweet tea, but I'd love to make a gallon of it for the kids. How much sugar do I put in? It's not like I'm going to taste test it because I don't like my tea sweet so any sugar I put in there would be too much for me. And, do I use real sugar, or some of the artificial sweeteners? I've got the pink stuff, the yellow stuff and the blue stuff. (I have no idea what it is, I don't use it, but I always have it here for guests).

And, a brief note. We always get very sweet thank you notes from the kids. And they are so cute. It's like...thank you for the food, we love your mini horses and your antique cars....oh, and the solar panels were cool, too. LOL

 

[Al B]

Sweet tea is not just tea with sugar added. Sugar does not dissolve in cold water. So the sugar is added during the boiling (or whatever) process to make the sugar dissolve. How much is a matter of experimentation and taste but it will take less than just adding it afterward.

 

[Marty]

About 2 cups per pitcher!

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I heat about 3 cups of water on the stove. Just before it boils, add 4 family size tea bags. Put the lid on the pan, turn off the heat, and let it steep for about 10-15 minutes. Pour into a gallon jar, add 1 cup of sugar, stir well, then add the rest of the water to the jar. Usually I leave the tea bags suspended in the water until ready to serve, just to be sure the tea flavor is maximized.

This makes a flavorful sweet tea. I grew up drinking sweet tea. Do not drink it any more myself, but when we have family get togethers, it is a staple.

 

[sundancer]

I make a simple sugar syrup to add to the tea. Its one cup sugar to one cup water bring to almost a boil. I usually heat it til the sugar is dissolved. Let it cool a bit and add to your pitcher of tea. The sweeter you like it the more you add!

Julie

Victory Pass Stable

Maine

 

[Charley]

I am with you on the unsweet tea. It's the only way I like it.

But when serving sweet iced tea, many like lemon in their tea. A small bowl of small lemon wedges served on the side might be a good idea.

 

[shorthorsemom]

I only drink unsugared tea... for those sweet tea folks I make like this... I boil water in small pan on stove. Remove from heat and I add black and green tea bags. About 3 each. I put on a lid and allow to steep for some time until its dark. I add sugar while still warm, stir and then add the cold to the sweet hot tea stock. I refrigerate. I love the black and green combination. For uber sweet tea I make a separate water and sugar heated mixture on the stove and add to the tea stock. that tastes real southern but as I said, I don't really like my tea that sweet.

for my sweet tea, I make unsweetened and add stevia to make sweet.

 

[Performancemini]

My mother-in-law is Georgia born and raised where sweet tea is a staple. She makes a sugar syrup just like Sundancer above described for it. Lemon slices are served in a bowl as an option.

 

[Debby - LB]

gotta make that simple syrup to have good southern sweet iced tea! also a tiny pinch of soda in it. My husband drinks over a pitcher of it a week. I don't like sweet drinks so if I have iced tea I pour it before the sugar is added. I like lemon too but only with iced tea, that is good! I can't drink my hot tea with lemon though yuk.

I love my hot tea!! I buy some Tazo tea now and then but I grow my own herbs so mostly use those to make tea.

 

[Jill]

I love sweet tea, but make mine with the yellow and blue no calorie sweeteners. Saves on the calories and carbs, dissolves fast, but not sure the sweetness in it is good for us.

 

[REO]

I never knew about making the syrup first

I'm weird (you all knew that!) as I must have sugar in my coffee Never sweetner.

But I can't stand sugar in my iced tea, it Must be sweetner! I use the pink kind at home

 

[susanne]

Be sure to also have something without sugar or honey. As one with diabetes, I can't stress how awful it is to be hot and thirsty and have no sugar-free options. For a teenager who doesnt want to bring attention to themselves, it is even worse. Ice water and unsweetened iced tea are two easy options.

A number of year ago, our jazz trio played for my brother's wedding reception -- a hot August evening in a building that had not been cooled during a 100+ degree day. We played for a couple of hours without a break, then went in search of something -- anything! -- cold to drink. They had absolutely nothing sugar-free. The only water available -- tap water -- was luke warm, but it had to do. I drank my glass of luke warm water while everyone else enjoyed punch and a wide assortment of cold, sugary drinks.