How to Make Southern Sweet Tea That Isn’t Bitter | Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House
🧋❤️ Y’all, there’s nothing quite like a tall glass of homemade Southern sweet tea! But have you ever made a batch that turned out a little too bitter?
Well, Faye from Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House in Sanford, North Carolina, is sharing her kitchen wisdom on how to make delicious, refreshing sweet tea without that unpleasant bitter taste!
Around here in the South, sweet tea is practically a tradition. Whether you’re enjoying it with Sunday dinner, serving it at a family gathering, or sipping a cold glass on the front porch, a good pitcher of sweet tea is hard to beat!
And if you’ve ever wondered why your homemade tea sometimes tastes bitter, you’re going to want to watch this video!
🎥 Watch Faye Show You How to Make Sweet Tea That Isn’t Bitter!
Faye is sharing her simple method for making delicious Southern sweet tea.
Watch Faye’s Sweet Tea Cooking Tip on YouTube
Be sure to watch the video to see exactly how Faye prepares her tea!
🧋 Easy Southern Sweet Tea Recipe
Here’s a simple Southern sweet tea recipe you can try at home, along with a few tips for preventing bitterness.
Ingredients
- 4 family-size black tea bags
- 4 cups water for brewing
- ½–1 cup granulated sugar, depending on how sweet you like your tea
- Additional cold water to make 1 gallon
- Ice for serving
- Fresh lemon slices (optional)
These are suggested measurements for a traditional gallon of Southern sweet tea. Watch Faye’s video for her own preparation method.
Easy Step-by-Step Instructions
- Heat your water. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan.
- Add your tea bags. Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully add your tea bags.
- Let the tea steep. Allow the tea bags to steep for approximately 3–5 minutes. Avoid leaving them in too long, which can make the tea bitter.
- Remove the tea bags. Gently lift them out without squeezing them.
- Add your sugar. Stir the sugar into the warm tea until completely dissolved.
- Add cold water. Pour the tea mixture into a gallon-size pitcher and add enough cold water to make one gallon.
- Chill and serve! Refrigerate until cold, then pour over a tall glass of ice.
And there you have it! A refreshing pitcher of homemade Southern sweet tea! ❤️
❤️ Faye’s Sweet Tea Tips: How to Avoid Bitter Tea
Don’t steep your tea too long! One of the most common reasons tea becomes bitter is leaving the tea bags in hot water for too long.
Avoid squeezing your tea bags! Squeezing can release more bitter-tasting compounds into your tea.
Dissolve your sugar while the tea is warm! This helps the sugar blend evenly throughout the pitcher.
Make it as sweet as you like! Some folks love their tea extra sweet, while others prefer just a little sugar.
Serve it nice and cold! There’s nothing better than a refreshing glass of Southern sweet tea poured over plenty of ice!
🧋 Why Does Sweet Tea Sometimes Taste Bitter?
Tea naturally contains compounds called tannins, which can create a dry, astringent taste.
When tea is steeped too long or brewed too aggressively, more of these compounds can end up in your drink.
The good news? Adjusting your steeping time and brewing method can help you make smoother, better-tasting tea.
That’s why it’s worth learning a few little kitchen tricks from Faye!
🍽️ What Goes Best With Southern Sweet Tea?
Just about everything, if you ask us! 😂
Here are a few of our favorite foods to enjoy with a cold glass of sweet tea:
- Homemade chicken salad sandwiches
- Southern chicken casserole
- Meatloaf
- Deviled eggs
- Pimento cheese sandwiches
- Freshly baked cakes and pies
Sweet tea is perfect for family reunions, church gatherings, backyard cookouts, and just about any Southern meal!
📚 Bring a Little Mrs. Lacy’s Home With You!
Love cooking with Faye? Then you’ll love Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House Cookbook!
Filled with 500 cherished family recipes, it’s a wonderful way to bring a little Southern hospitality into your own kitchen.
❤️ Shop Mrs. Lacy’s Cookbooks Online
Cookbooks are also available at Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House in Sanford, North Carolina.
❤️ More Cooking With Faye!
At Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House, we love sharing family recipes, easy cooking tips, and a little Southern hospitality with all of you!
Be sure to follow our YouTube channel for more recipes, kitchen tips, and fun with Faye.
And if you’re ever in Sanford, North Carolina, we’d love for you to stop by Mrs. Lacy’s Magnolia House for lunch and something sweet!
Now we want to know! ❤️ Are you a sweet tea lover, an unsweet tea drinker, or do you like yours somewhere in between? Tell us in the comments!
