Black Folks Southern Sweet Tea

For starters, Southern sweet tea is a delicious blend of refreshingly sweet and tangy flavors. (Mostly sweet flavors when making Southern-style sweet tea the Black folks' way!) But sweet tea is more than just a thirst-quenching beverage. It symbolizes Southern hospitality and good company, enjoyed throughout the deep South.

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Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 30

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Black people food, Southern Food

Servings: cups

Calories: 116kcal

Author: Shaunda Necole • The Soul Food Pot®

Equipment

Large 8 quart pot
Slotted spoon

Ingredients

8 tea bags small black teabags or 4 large (family-size) black teabags
5 quarts water cold
3 cups sugar granulated
¼ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

Cut the strings off the tea bags and set them aside, taking care not to cut them open, as you don't want bits of tea floating around in the water.
Then, bring the cold water to a boil in a large pot over high heat.
Remove the pot from the heat, turn off the stove, and add the tea bags to the hot water.
Steep for 15 minutes, dunking the tea bags several times.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the tea bags and stir in the sugar and baking soda until it's dissolved completely.
Pour the tea into a pitcher, and for iced tea, allow the tea to chill for a few hours in the fridge.
Once chilled, pour the Southern sweet tea over a glass of ice, optionally garnish with lemon slices, and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

❤️ Why trust this recipe?

Created + tested by Shaunda Necole, creator of The Soul Food Pot® (real cook, real kitchen). Rooted in African American culinary traditions, with modern shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor or legacy. No AI-generated instructions — measurements, timing, and techniques are written, cooked, and verified by Shaunda. Make-it-your-way guidance included, so you can cook confidently with the tools you have.

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