"Folks Are Coming!"
One Gallon of Southern Sweet Tea
Ingredients:
3 cups of good-tasting,* cold waterDirections:
5-9 tea bags** of good-tasting black tea*** (remove any paper tags, staples, etc)
1 1/2 cups white sugar****
6 cups of ice cubes (approximately)
Put three cups of water in a pot. Place the pot on the stove on high heat to bring the water to a rolling boil.* "good-tasting, cold water" You cannot make good-tasting tea without good-tasting water. Do you like the taste of your tap water? If yes, then use ordinary tap water to make tea. If no, then try one of the following. Use an inexpensive, good-tasting bottled water or use charcoal-filtered water. It's up to you.
Have the tea bags ready.
Pour sugar into a gallon pitcher.
When it is finally hot enough, remove the water from the heat and pour into the gallon pitcher. Stir to completely dissolve sugar into the hot water.
Quickly, add the tea bags and cover. Allow to steep for 5 to 10 minutes. No more, or your tea will be "over- brewed."
Remove tea bags.
Then, fill up the gallon pitcher with cold water.
Refrigerate, until time to serve.
Some folks suggest using a pinch of baking soda (a little less than 1/4 teaspoon). The pinch of baking soda takes out the bitterness and darkens the tea.
**If you like your tea more "robust," use 10 bags. Luzianne Tea is a well known Southern robust tasting tea.
*** "good-tasting black tea" is a subjective description. As noted above, Luzianne Tea is a robust tasting tea. Personally, I prefer a smoother black tea, like Earl Grey.
**** "sugar" If you like your tea really sweet, add 2 cups sugar. If you prefer less sweet tea, add only 1 cup sugar. It's up to you.
Excellent Southern Sweet Tea
When I was little, I remember seeing some Florida ladies make iced tea by adding loose tea leaves to the pot of boiling water, stirring lightly, and then straining the leaves out. These directions are another good method for making "Excellent Southern Sweet Tea."
The directions for this method are gleaned from Brewing Sweet Tea, accessed 6/20/12.
Use a high-quality loose leaf tea, rather than ordinary tea bags, which are generally filled with low-grade tea. Some also suggest avoiding water straight from the tap, claiming carbon-filtered water produces a better flavor.
Ingredients:
1 ounce loose tea leavesDirections:
1 1/8 cup granulated sugar (preferably organic)
1-gallon pitcher
wire mesh sieve
lemon slices for garnish
ice