Sweet Tea Syrup Recipe: A Southern Staple Made Easy
Indulge in the rich flavor of sweet tea with this easy-to-make syrup – perfect for both hot and cold beverages.
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Sweet tea is a beloved Southern classic that has the hearts and taste buds of many across the United States. With its refreshing combination of bold black tea and just the right amount of sweetness, this iconic beverage has become essential with warm summer days on front porches and family gatherings. In our house we enjoy sweet tea daily. Instead of having to keep gallons of sweet tea on hand in the refrigerator we have found it to be much easier and convenient to use flavored simple syrup for iced tea. It saves us so much time each week. If you are looking for a sweet tea simple syrup recipe you are in the right place!
You can use this exact method and recipe for many other teas just by swapping out the tea bags. So if you are needing to know how to make green tea concentrate or how to make tea concentrate of any flavor continue reading.
Equipment
- Pot
- Measuring cup
- Whisk
- Mason jar or airtight container
- Pitcher
Ingredients
- Water – I prefer to use water that has been filtered through our Berkey water filter but you can use whatever water you prefer.
- Black tea – You can use tea leaves or black tea bags.
- Sugar – I prefer to use organic cane sugar but you can use any granulated sugar you prefer.
Iced Tea Syrup Recipe
How to Make Concentrated Tea
- In a pot add equal parts, 4 cup water and 4 cup sugar. Put it on high heat. Using a whisk continuously stir the sugar and water mixture until the water begins to boil.
- Once the sugar water mixture begins to boil remove the pot from the heat.
- Add one sleeve of tea bags or approximately 25. These are the small tea bags intended for a single cup of tea, not the big tea bags. If you are using big tea bags use approximately 12. Allow tea bags to steep atleast 30 minutes. I like to let them steep for about an hour for a stronger tea.
- Remove the tea bags and pour the tea syrup into an airtight container. I prefer to use a mason jar. Store in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.
How to Use Sweet Tea Syrup
It is important to know this is a syrup/concentrate. You will need approximately 1 cup of syrup to 2 quarts of water or 2 cups of syrup to 1 gallon of water. You can always add more syrup or less depending on how sweet you like your tea.
FAQ’s
It will stay good approximately 7 – 10 days if kept refrigerated.
Tea syrup can be added to water for sweet tea or some other uses are in sparkling water, tea infused water, tea latte, mocktails, or cocktails. The possibilities are endless there are tons of recipes you can find online for uses of tea syrup in food and drinks.
Yes, at room temperature tea will begin to ferment so it is important to always keep it refrigerated. Tea goes bad after about 10 days even kept in the refrigerator. So it is important to not make more than you will use in 10 days.
Tea syrup is an iced tea syrup concentrate that consist of sugar, water, and tea.
Yes! You can absolutely put maple syrup in tea. The natural sweetness of maple syrup makes it an excellent alternative for those looking to reduce their refined sugar intake while adding a touch of unique flavor to their beverages.
With our homemade iced tea concentrate syrup we use about 2 cups of syrup per a gallon of water. Making approximately 1 gallon of tea.
You can use this recipe if you are making tea concentrate of any flavor. Whether you like herbal tea, earl grey, or green tea syrup once you add the sugar and water add your preferred tea bags to get tea syrups. With this recipe you are essentially learning how to make sugar syrup for iced tea. It is not the same as simple syrup for tea but it is similar.
In conclusion, sweet tea is a beloved and refreshing beverage that has become an iconic staple in the southern United States. With its simple yet delicious combination of black tea, sugar, and water, this classic recipe offers a delightful balance of flavors that can be enjoyed year-round. Whether you prefer it served over ice on a hot summer day or as a comforting treat during the cooler months, sweet tea is sure to satisfy your cravings for something sweet and satisfying. So why not give this easy-to-make recipe a try? Your taste buds will thank you!
If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below!
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Equipment
- Pot
- Measuring cup
- Whisk
- Jar
- Pitcher
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Water
- 4 Cups Sugar
- 25 Small Tea bags
Instructions
- In a pot add equal parts, 4 cup water and 4 cup sugar. Put it on high heat. Using a whisk continuously stir the sugar and water mixture until the water begins to boil.
- Once the sugar water mixture begins to boil remove the pot from the heat.
- Add one sleeve of tea bags or approximately 25. These are the small tea bags intended for a single cup of tea, not the big tea bags. If you are using big tea bags use approximately 12.
- Remove the tea bags and pour the tea syrup into an airtight container. I prefer to use a mason jar. Store in the refrigerator for 7-10 days.
