Description
Refreshing and sweet strawberry-infused black tea, perfect for a summer thirst quencher. This homemade strawberry sweet tea combines brewed black tea with a homemade strawberry syrup, balanced for the perfect fruity sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 2 cups water
- 8 black tea bags
- 4 cups water
- 1 tsp baking soda
Strawberry Syrup
- 2 cups water
- 4 cups strawberries, chopped
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
Instructions
- Boil Water and Brew Tea: Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once boiling, remove from heat and add the black tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes to extract full flavor without bitterness.
- Remove Tea Bags: Remove the tea bags from the water, squeezing any excess liquid out with tongs, then transfer the brewed tea into a large pitcher with 4 additional cups of cold water and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Stir gently.
- Prepare Strawberry Syrup: In the same saucepan, add the remaining 2 cups of water, chopped strawberries, and 1½ cups of granulated sugar. Bring this mixture to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes to release the strawberry flavors and dissolve the sugar.
- Cool and Strain Syrup: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the strawberry syrup cool slightly. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a separate small cup or pitcher, pressing to extract all the juice while leaving seeds and pulp behind.
- Combine Tea and Syrup: Pour the strained strawberry syrup into the large pitcher with the brewed tea mixture. Stir well to combine all flavors evenly.
- Serve: Pour the strawberry sweet tea over ice cubes in individual glasses. Serve chilled and enjoy.
Notes
- Store your strawberry sweet tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- This is SWEET tea, but you can reduce the sugar to half for a more pronounced strawberry flavor and less sweetness.
- Adding a splash of fresh lemon juice adds a bright zestiness to the tea.
- Use very ripe strawberries for the most intense flavor, especially best during summer when they are juiciest.
- Start with cold water for the additional 4 cups to avoid cloudiness in the tea.
- Do not steep the tea bags longer than 5 minutes to avoid bitter flavors.
- Add ice to individual glasses, not the pitcher, to prevent dilution of the tea before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 34 g
- Sodium: 15 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
