Description
This delicious Strawberry Sweet Tea recipe offers a refreshing and flavorful drink perfect for enjoying all summer long. Combining the robust taste of black tea with the natural sweetness and tartness of fresh strawberries, sugar, and a hint of lemon juice, this beverage is easy to prepare and ideal for cooling down on hot days.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea
- 4 cups Water (for brewing tea)
- 4 Black Tea Bags (use strong varieties for best flavor)
Strawberry Syrup
- 1 pound Fresh Strawberries (ripe and sliced)
- 1 cup Sugar (balances the tartness of strawberries)
- 1 cup Water (for extracting flavor from strawberries)
Additional Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (adds brightness to flavors)
- Ice (for serving)
- Sliced Strawberries (for garnishing)
Instructions
- Boil water and brew tea: Begin by boiling 4 cups of water in a medium saucepan over high heat. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, remove it from heat and add 4 black tea bags. Allow the tea to steep for 10 to 15 minutes to extract strong flavor.
- Prepare strawberry syrup: In a separate saucepan, combine 1 pound of sliced fresh strawberries, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes, mashing the strawberries with the back of a spoon to release their juice.
- Strain the strawberry syrup: Pour the strawberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or pitcher. Press gently on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the remaining pulp.
- Combine tea and strawberry syrup: In a large pitcher, mix the cooled black tea with the strained strawberry syrup. Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to brighten the flavors if desired, and stir well to blend everything together.
- Chill the tea: Refrigerate the combined strawberry sweet tea for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the drink to become refreshing and cold.
- Serve: Fill glasses with ice and pour the chilled Strawberry Sweet Tea over them. Garnish with fresh strawberry slices to add visual appeal and extra flavor.
Notes
- For stronger tea flavor, steep the tea bags longer but avoid bitterness.
- Adjust sugar quantity depending on your sweetness preference or substitute with honey or agave syrup.
- Use ripe, fresh strawberries for the best natural sweetness and flavor.
- Allow tea and syrup mixtures to cool before combining to prevent dilution from melting ice.
- Store leftover tea in the refrigerator and consume within 3 days.
