Description
A refreshing and sweet homemade Strawberry Sweet Tea combining classic black tea with a homemade strawberry syrup for a fruity twist perfect for summer.
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 Steep Tea: Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once boiling, remove from the heat and add the 8 black tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes to extract the flavor without bitterness.
- Remove Tea Bags and Combine: Remove the tea bags squeezing out any excess tea with tongs. Transfer the brewed tea into a large pitcher and add 4 additional cups of water along with 1 tsp of baking soda to balance the flavor and reduce acidity.
- Prepare Strawberry Syrup: Using the same saucepan, add the remaining 2 cups water, chopped strawberries, and granulated sugar. Bring this mixture to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes to infuse sweetness and strawberry flavor.
- Cool and Strain Syrup: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the syrup cool slightly. Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a separate pitcher or small container, pressing the berries to extract maximum juice.
- Mix Tea and Syrup: Add the strawberry syrup into the large pitcher with the brewed tea and stir well to combine all flavors harmoniously.
- Serve: Pour the strawberry sweet tea over ice cubes in individual glasses to keep the tea from being diluted prematurely and enjoy chilled.
Notes
- Store the strawberry sweet tea covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Reduce sugar by half if you prefer a less sweet and fruitier flavor.
- Add lemon juice for some bright zest and acidity.
- Use very ripe strawberries for the most intense and juicy strawberry flavor, ideally in season during summer.
- Start with cold water when making tea to avoid cloudiness caused by tannins from hot water.
- Do not steep tea for too long to prevent bitterness.
- Add ice to individual glasses, not the whole pitcher, to avoid diluting the tea before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
