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We love making this Sweet Tea Recipe for the perfect drink to serve at our backyard BBQ’s or as porch-sipping refreshment! All you need is tea bags, sugar, water and a gallon pitcher for a drink you’ll crave all year long.

A glass pitcher filled with dark red sweet tea sits on a table, garnished with a lemon slice. Next to it are lemon wedges, mint leaves, two glasses with ice, and a black-and-white patterned cloth—perfect for your next sweet tea recipe.
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Nothing beats an icy glass of Homemade Sweet Tea! Brewed strong tea that is sweetened while still hot dissolves into a silky syrup for a crisp and refreshing drink that is the perfect thirst-quencher!

All you need is a handful of pantry ingredients to make this staple drinks for your BBQ’s, potlucks or weeknight dinners. We love to garnish with lemon slices or fresh mint leaves for added flavor. You may even love to make Sparkling Lemonade or Pineapple Lemonade for another delicious and refreshing drink.

What's in this post: Sweet Tea Recipe

Why You’ll Love this Sweet Tea Recipe!

A woman with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a burgundy top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

Growing up my mom always made the best Sweet Tea! It was always so refreshing and a must for our holiday meals and outdoor BBQs!

These simple steps will create the best brewed tea and never cloudy. If you have trouble making tea from scratch, follow these steps and you be amazed by the results!

This tea recipe is completely customizable! If you prefer it stronger, add in more tea bags or if it is too sweet add less sugar. I always love to add in peach or raspberry syrups for the perfect drink to enjoy by the pool!

Ingredients

Overhead view of two glass pitchers filled with water, two whole lemons, a white oval bowl of sugar, and four tea bags on a white hexagonal tile surface—perfect for making homemade sweet tea.
  • Family Size Tea Bags – Use your brand of choice. I like Luzianne or Lipton black tea bags. You can even make with green tea
  • Gallon of Water – Use filtered or tap water
  • Granulated Sugar – Add in the amount you prefer. You can also substitute with Splenda
  • Lemons – Optional addition

Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.

How to Make Sweet Tea

A large pot filled with water sits on a patterned towel. Nearby are wooden utensils, four tea bags, a bowl of sugar, and a glass bowl, all arranged on white hexagonal tiles—perfect for starting your Sweet Tea Recipe.

Step 1 – Boil 8 cups water in a large pot, kettle or saucepan.

A pot of hot water with three tea bags inside, ready for a delicious Sweet Tea Recipe, is surrounded by a cup of sugar, two lemons, a pitcher of water, a patterned towel, and a wooden spoon on a white hexagonal tile surface.

Step 2 – Once water comes to a boil, add 3 family sized tea bags and gently push them down to submerge them.

A pot of dark tea with two tea bags steeping inside, a wooden spoon resting on the edge. Nearby are two lemons, sugar for that perfect sweet tea recipe, a pitcher of water, and a patterned cloth on a hexagon-tiled surface.

Step 3 – Turn off the heat and let the tea bags steep for 10-15 minutes. Then remove tea bags after steeping.

A glass pitcher filled with dark liquid—perfect for your favorite Sweet Tea Recipe—sits on a patterned cloth next to a wooden spoon, two lemons, and a clear glass bowl atop a white hexagon-tiled surface.

Step 4 – Add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Pour the warm tea into the pitcher and top with another 8 cups of cold water.

Step 5 – Chill the pitcher of sweet tea in the refrigerators for 2-3 hours, and then serve over ice.

Step 6 – Top sweet iced tea with fresh lemons if desired. Enjoy!

A glass pitcher filled with dark red sweet tea, garnished with lemon slices. Three empty glasses with ice are nearby, along with fresh lemon, mint leaves, and a decorative black and white napkin. White canisters sit in the background—a perfect sweet tea recipe setting.
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A glass pitcher filled with iced tea, inspired by a classic sweet tea recipe and garnished with lemon slices, sits on a marble countertop. Mint leaves, extra lemon slices, and a patterned napkin are arranged nearby. Two glasses with ice are in the background.

Sweet Tea Recipe

5 from 2 votes
We love making this Sweet Tea Recipe for the perfect drink to serve at our backyard BBQ's or as porch-sipping refreshment! All you need is tea bags, sugar, water and a gallon pitcher for a drink you'll crave all year long.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill: 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 16
Cuisine American
Course Beverage
Calories 98
Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Boil 8 cups of water in a large pot.
  • Once water comes to a boil, add 3 family sized tea bags and gently push them down to submerge them.
  • Turn off the heat and let the tea bags steep for 10-15 minutes.
  • Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
  • Pour into the pitcher and top with another 8 cups of cold water.
  • Chill in the refrigerators for 2-3 hours, and then serve over ice.
  • Top with fresh lemons if desired. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Calories 98kcal, Carbohydrates 26g, Protein 0.1g, Fat 0.1g, Saturated Fat 0.003g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.01g, Monounsaturated Fat 0.001g, Sodium 12mg, Potassium 10mg, Fiber 0.2g, Sugar 25g, Vitamin A 1IU, Vitamin C 4mg, Calcium 9mg, Iron 0.1mg

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Pro Tips

  • Steeping Tea Bags – Make sure to not over steep the tea bags for the best flavor.
  • Baking Soda – Most southern sweet tea recipe includes a pinch of baking soda for the secret ingredient to help neutralize the natural occurring tannins and remove the slight bitterness.
  • Cutting Sugar – Replace half the sugar with ¼ cup honey or use a zero-calorie sweetener (add those after chilling, to taste).

Flavor Variations

  • Arnold Palmer – Mix equal parts lemonade and sweet tea for delicious drink.
  • Add Alcohol – Spike your sweet tea by adding a shot of liquor such as bourbon, vodka or whiskey to the glass and then pour sweet tea over the top.
  • Syrups – Feel free to add in simple syrup to change the flavor for amazing results!
Iced tea with lemon slices and mint is served in tall glasses filled with ice, next to a pitcher of tea. This refreshing sweet tea recipe is garnished with fresh mint leaves and lemon wedges on a white countertop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Tea Bags for 1 Gallon of Sweet Tea?

It is based on your personal preference on how strong you want your tea. But generally you need 3-4 family size tea bags or 12 standard size tea bags.

How to Store Sweet Tea

Place the covered pitcher in the refrigerator for up to 5 days for best results.

More Easy Tea Recipes

If you make this Sweet Tea Recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review. We love to hear from you!

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

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5 from 2 votes

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Comments

  1. Casey says:

    5 stars
    I love sweet tea and this recipe was just what I needed to make it at home! It turned out perfectly and so delicious.

    Reply
  2. Larry W Byers says:

    5 stars
    I have used this recipe for years the same exact one, but I do not use lemon. I start out with 2/3 cup of granulated sugar for the sweetening part. My mother taught me how to make this over years ago. I have seen it, but I may be partial. I do use Louisanne for my tear of choice.

    Reply
    1. Kathy - Eating on a Dime Team says:

      Larry – I’m glad you enjoyed it! We love sweet tea too!

      Reply