Servings: 8
Calories: 18kcal
Ingredients
For the Simple Syrup
- 2 tablespoon Honey
- 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme
- 1 Piloncillo Cone
- 4 cups Cold Water
For the Tea
- ¼ cup Lemon Juice
- 3 family-sized Black Tea Bags
- 1 gallon Hot Water
Instructions
Make the Simple Syrup
- Add water and piloncillo to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until piloncillo cone is fully dissolved. Add the honey, mix well, and cook for another five minutes.
- Remove off heat then allow the thyme to steep in the simple syrup for 10 minutes. Set aside
Make the Tea
- Add the tea bags to a large gallon pitcher with hot water for the tea to steep. Be sure to leave room in the pitcher for the simple syrup.
- Sweeten it to your liking with simple syrup. Taste and adjust as needed
- Squeeze the juice from the lemons and add to the tea. Stir well and either refrigerate the tea or sit it out and allow it to reach room temperature
- Serve tea in a mason jar filled with ice cubes.
Notes
Use regular tea bags over tea leaves. No need for any of the fancy stuff. Southern style sweet tea is made with black tea!
When making tea for the family or guests, I use those family-sized tea bags and strive to make about a gallon of sweet tea.
The best sweet tea in my opinion has a nice balance between the tartness and sweetness. Sweet is good, but too much sugar or sweetness and you can't taste the tea.
Add lemon slices to the pitcher of tea.
Some like to add fresh mint to their sweet tea for a more refreshing element.
I like making a simple syrup to sweeten my tea. Liquids tend to dissolve more easily than can sugar.
Start with good quality tea bags. Use black tea for the best flavor and make sure to brew the tea for the full recommended time to give it a strong flavor.
If you prefer to use sugar instead of simple syrup, add the sugar while the tea is still hot so that it dissolves more easily.
Southern tea is not just for hot summer days. It is common to have it at family dinners, especially during the holidays. It's often the beverage of choice.
Nutrition
Calories: 18kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.03g | Saturated Fat: 0.004g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.004g | Sodium: 30mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 18IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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