Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe

If you crave sunshine in a glass, this Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea is pure southern hospitality, summer, and joy swirled into one crisp, rosy pitcher. Juicy strawberries blend with classic sweet tea for a refreshing twist you’ll want to serve at every porch party and gathering.

Ingredients You’ll Need

What makes this Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea so irresistible is its simplicity—just a handful of kitchen staples, each playing a starring role in color, aroma, sweetness, and pure refreshment.

• Family-size black tea bags: These create that classic, bold, and slightly earthy Southern tea base; I love Luzianne for its smooth finish.
• Water: You’ll need hot water to steep the tea and cold for mixing, as the right water ratio ensures a perfectly light yet flavorful tea.
• Ripe strawberries: Fresh, juicy strawberries are the secret to that dazzling pink color and natural berry sweetness—choose the reddest, most fragrant berries for the best flavor.
• Granulated sugar: This gives your tea that signature Southern sweetness that’s utterly irresistible (feel free to adjust to your own preference).
• Ice, fresh or frozen strawberries, and mint (optional): For serving, these pretty garnishes keep everything extra-chilled and delightful, perfect for impressing guests.

Variations

One of the best things about Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea is just how customizable it is. Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on it—swap in new flavors, lighten it up, or adapt for special occasions!

• Make it a Strawberry Lemon Sweet Tea: Add the juice of one or two lemons for a tangy, lemonade-inspired twist that’s extra refreshing on a hot day.
• Lighten the Sweetness: Substitute half the sugar with honey or a sugar substitute, or simply use less sugar for a subtle, fruit-forward version.
• Try Herbal or Green Tea: Swap black tea bags for green tea or a fruity herbal blend for a different spin—and perhaps even more antioxidants.
• Adults-Only Cocktail: Spike your pitcher with a splash of vodka or bourbon for an effortless party drink that tastes just like summer in a glass.

How to Make Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea

Step 1: Brew the Tea

Start by bringing two cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove the pan from the heat, then add your family-size tea bags and let them steep for about 10 minutes. This ensures your tea is rich, smooth, and never bitter—just that old-fashioned Southern base we all love.

Step 2: Prep and Puree the Strawberries

While the tea’s steeping, wash, hull, and dice your strawberries. Add them to a food processor or blender and puree until silky smooth. This is what gives the tea its sunset-pink hue and irresistible aroma.

Step 3: Strain for Strawberry Perfection

Pour the pureed strawberries through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl, pressing with a spoon to extract as much vibrant juice as possible. Discard the seeds and pulp—what’s left is pure summer gold.

Step 4: Sweeten, Mix, and Chill

In a large pitcher, combine the steeped tea, fresh strawberry juice, and sugar. Stir until every last grain dissolves, then pour in four cups of cold water. Pop it in the fridge to chill thoroughly (the longer, the better—the flavors meld and deepen as it gets colder!).

Step 5: Serve Over Ice and Garnish

When you’re ready to serve, fill glasses with ice—frozen strawberry slices as “ice cubes” add an extra-special touch! Pour the chilled tea over, and finish with fresh berries or a sprig of mint for a gorgeous, festive look.

How to Serve Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea

Garnishes

Pile on those extra strawberries, pop in a twist of lemon, or add a sprig of fresh mint—the garnishes for Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea are as fun as they are beautiful. Frozen berries as ice cubes not only keep things cool but make every glass pop with color and charm!

Side Dishes

This tea shines alongside all your summer favorites—think fried chicken, flaky biscuits, barbecue, or sweet tea sandwiches. It’s also delightful with light snacks like fruit, cookies, or a slice of pound cake for an easy afternoon treat.

Creative Ways to Present

Serve in mason jars for that classic Southern touch—or dress things up with glass pitchers and tall tumblers garnished with strawberry and lemon skewers. Hosting a party? Set up a “sweet tea bar” with fun garnishes so guests can customize their glass just how they like.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea in the fridge, tightly covered, for up to three days. Just give it a good stir before serving again, as some of the strawberry goodness may settle at the bottom.

Freezing

Try freezing leftover tea in ice cube trays for a chilly treat or to keep pitchers cold without watering down the flavor. While you can technically freeze the whole batch, it’s best enjoyed fresh for the brightest taste and clearest color.

Reheating

Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea is all about being icy cold, so there’s no need to reheat! If you find it’s lost its chill, simply add more ice and give it a swirl before serving.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

There’s just something magical about sharing a pitcher of good, old-fashioned Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea on a sun-dappled porch or around your kitchen table. If you give this recipe a try, I hope it brings as much sweetness and cheer to your day as it does to mine—cheers to strawberry season and making every moment a little more special!

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