Cracker Barrel-Inspired Southern Sweet Tea
Capture the quintessential taste of the South with this easy homemade sweet tea recipe, inspired by Cracker Barrel's classic. It's the perfect refreshing beverage for any meal.
Ingredients
- 8 cups (2 quarts) filtered water, divided
- 6-8 standard-sized black tea bags (e.g., Lipton, Luzianne)
- 1 to 1.5 cups granulated sugar (adjust to desired sweetness)
Instructions
- 1
In a large saucepan or pot, bring 4 cups of the filtered water to a rolling boil.
- 2
Remove the pot from the heat. Add the tea bags, ensuring they are fully submerged in the hot water.
- 3
Cover the pot and let the tea steep for 5-7 minutes. Steeping longer can result in a bitter taste.
- 4
Carefully remove and discard the tea bags, pressing them gently against the side of the pot to extract any remaining liquid.
- 5
Add the granulated sugar to the hot tea concentrate and stir continuously until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- 6
Pour the sweetened tea concentrate into a heat-safe pitcher or large container.
- 7
Add the remaining 4 cups of cold filtered water to the pitcher. Stir well to combine the concentrate with the cold water.
- 8
Refrigerate the sweet tea for at least 1-2 hours, or until thoroughly chilled. Serve over ice.