5 Refreshing Southern Sweet Tea Recipes Every Texas Porch Needs
In Texas, sweet tea is more than just a drink. It is part of the table, part of the weather, and part of the whole slow-living, front-porch kind of life. Whether you are hosting a backyard cookout, cooling off after a long day, or just craving something cold and familiar, a good glass of sweet tea always fits right in.
The best part is that sweet tea does not have to be boring. With a few simple ingredients, you can turn a classic pitcher into something seasonal, pretty, and perfect for sharing. These refreshing Southern sweet tea recipes bring together classic Southern flavor with a little Texas lifestyle charm.
What is Southern Sweet Tea?
Southern sweet tea is made by brewing tea at double strength, adding a large amount of sugar to the freshly brewed hot tea, and diluting to the proper strength. It is served over a glass full of ice cubes and is often garnished with a slice of lemon.
Sweet tea is almost always served ice cold. It may sometimes be flavored, most commonly with lemon but also with peach, raspberry, or mint. The drink is sometimes tempered with baking soda to reduce its acidity.
History of Sweet Tea
Sweet tea began as an item of luxury due to the expensive nature of tea, ice, and sugar. Ice was possibly the most valued of the ingredients since it had to be shipped from afar at a time when access to cool drinking water was already a relative luxury. In modern times, it can be made in large quantities quickly and inexpensively.
The oldest known recipe for sweet iced tea was published in 1879 in a community cookbook called Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree, who was born in Virginia. The recipe called for green tea, since most sweet tea consumed during this period was green tea. However, during World War II, the major sources of green tea were cut off from the United States (due to the Japanese invasion and occupation of green tea producing regions), leaving them with tea almost exclusively from British India which produced black tea. Americans came out of the war drinking predominantly black tea. Sweet tea was once consumed as a punch mixed with liquor with flavorings of mint and cream, with mint julep being a close version of the punch drink with its similar ingredients.
In 2003, supposedly as an April Fool's joke, the Georgia House introduced a bill making it a "...misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature" to sell iced tea in a restaurant that did not also offer sweet iced tea on the menu.The bill never went to a vote.
Recipes
There are so many ways to brew up some southern sweet tea. You can have it the ole' classic way, flavored (lemon, peach, raspberry, ect.) or even add a little something something to it, wink wink!
Southern Sweet Tea Recipes
This is THE classic Southern Sweet Tea recipe ~ in true Southern style. Have a nice big glass, y'all!
Beautiful, mild and refreshing drink to enjoy on these lazy summer days. This iced green tea is flavored with fresh, juicy peaches, fresh ginger, and honey.
This iced rhubarb tea recipe is super easy to make. While the sweetness in this recipe typically comes from sugar you can use stevia, honey, or agave
Classic Sweet Iced Tea is a delicious, quick and refreshing drink. This 3 ingredients recipe tastes way better than any store brought iced tea drinks.
OR you can have the next one with or without alcohol, take your pick. Either way it sure does sound refreshing.
Just three simple ingredients, quick to mix, and easy to prepare, this Dirty Arnold Palmer is a perfect cocktail for summer sipping. And no matter what you call it - a Dirty Arnold Palmer or a John Daly - it's just as refreshingly delicious on a hot day as the original Arnold Palmer drink!
You can also whip up some Sweet Tea by grabbing Lipton Southern Sweet Tea bags.
This is actually how I make my sweet tea at the moment, I got so excited when I saw this is my local grocery store (shown below).
I love the the Lipton, it's so quick and easy. But I think I am going to start trying out some of these recipes or even the back in the day "Sun Tea".
With all that being said, my favorite southern sweet tea is either with lemon or peach flavored. It's so addicting.
Don't forget, National Iced Tea Day is June 10 each year. Yes, just like everything else, there is something to celebrate everyday of the year. I celebrate sweet tea all the time!
Of all the Southern Sweet Tea recipes, what is your favorite or favorite flavor?
xoxo,
