The Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe is a delightful twist on a classic Southern favorite that will instantly become your go-to refreshment for warm days. Combining the rich, deep flavor of brewed black tea with the natural sweetness and vibrant color of fresh strawberries, this iced tea captures the essence of summer in every sip. It’s sweet, fruity, and perfectly balanced—a wonderful way to cool down and brighten your day with something that tastes homemade and heartfelt.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting the balance right between tea, strawberries, and sweetness is key to this Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe, and luckily, the ingredient list is straightforward yet essential to reaching that perfect harmony. Every component plays an important role, whether in flavor, texture, or color.
- 4-5 family-size tea bags (such as Luzianne): These classic, bold tea bags provide the strong, robust base typical of Southern iced tea.
- 6 cups water, divided: Used both for steeping the tea and diluting the final brew to just the right strength.
- 4 cups ripe strawberries (makes about 1 cup of juice): Fresh strawberries add natural sweetness and a lovely fruity aroma, making the tea irresistibly fresh.
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar: Sweetens the tea and enhances the balance between the tart berry flavor and the robust tea taste.
- Frozen or fresh strawberries (optional garnish): These add visual appeal and a hint of extra freshness when serving.
- Fresh mint (optional garnish): Offers a fragrant, cooling note that pairs beautifully with the strawberry flavor.
How to Make Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe
Step 1: Brew the Tea
Start by bringing 2 cups of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and steep your tea bags in the hot water for 10 minutes to extract a full-bodied flavor that forms the backbone of the tea. Once steeped, remove the tea bags and set the brewed tea aside to cool slightly. This concentrated tea base is essential for that authentic Southern taste.
Step 2: Prepare the Strawberries
While your tea is steeping, chop the ripe strawberries into smaller pieces and toss them into a food processor. Puree them until smooth, which helps release all those natural strawberry juices and vibrant flavors that will brighten your tea beautifully. This step ensures the fresh fruit truly infuses the iced tea.
Step 3: Strain the Strawberry Puree
Pour the strawberry puree through a fine mesh strainer over a bowl to separate the juice from the pulp. Discarding the pulp keeps your tea silky smooth and easy to drink, while the prized juice adds that signature fruity sweetness and gorgeous pink hue to the drink.
Step 4: Combine Tea, Strawberry Juice, and Sugar
In a large pitcher, stir together the brewed tea, the freshly strained strawberry juice, and the granulated sugar. Make sure to mix thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved. This careful mixing guarantees even sweetness and a perfect marriage of tea and berry flavors.
Step 5: Add Cold Water and Chill
Finally, pour in the remaining 4 cups of cold water to dilute your mixture to the ideal refreshing strength. Give it one last stir and then place the pitcher in the refrigerator. Let it chill for at least an hour to develop those deep, refreshing flavors before serving.
Step 6: Serve
Pour the chilled Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea over ice cubes to keep it wonderfully cold. Garnish your glasses with sliced frozen or fresh strawberries and a sprig of fresh mint if you like. Serve immediately and watch your friends and family swoon over this Southern classic with a fruity twist.
How to Serve Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe
Garnishes
Adding frozen or fresh strawberries along with fresh mint leaves not only makes the Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe look irresistible but also lends additional bursts of freshness with every sip. The strawberry garnish reinforces the fruity flavor while the mint adds a cooling aroma that perfectly complements the sweetness of the tea.
Side Dishes
This iced tea pairs beautifully with classic Southern dishes like fried chicken, biscuits, or a fresh garden salad. The fruity sweetness cuts through savory, spicy dishes beautifully, making it a versatile drink for barbecues, picnics, or casual family dinners.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive flair, serve this tea in mason jars or clear glasses adorned with colorful paper straws and a small skewer of strawberries and mint. You can even freeze small strawberry slices in your ice cubes for a decorative and flavorful touch that slowly releases fruitiness as the ice melts.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe in a sealed pitcher or airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep it chilled and give it a gentle stir before serving again to re-mix any settled ingredients.
Freezing
While freezing is not typically recommended for brewed iced tea due to possible texture changes, you can freeze the strawberry puree separately in ice cube trays. These strawberry cubes can be added to iced tea later, offering a fresh burst without diluting your drink.
Reheating
This iced tea is meant to be enjoyed chilled, so reheating is generally not advised. If you want to warm it, heat gently on the stove before serving, but the fresh strawberry flavor will be more pronounced when served cold.
FAQs
Can I use other types of tea for this recipe?
Absolutely! While traditional black tea—especially Luzianne—is classic for Southern iced tea, feel free to experiment with green tea or herbal blends. Keep in mind that this will change the final flavor profile slightly.
How do I make the tea less sweet?
Simply reduce the amount of granulated sugar to your preferred level of sweetness. You can also substitute with honey or a natural sweetener, adjusting to taste.
Can I make this iced tea without a food processor?
Yes! You can mash the strawberries manually with a fork or potato masher, then strain them to get the juice. It might take a bit more effort but the flavor will still be incredible.
Is it okay to use frozen strawberries instead of fresh?
Frozen strawberries work well if fresh ones aren’t available. Just thaw and puree them before straining to extract the juice for your iced tea.
How long will this tea stay fresh in the fridge?
Stored properly in a sealed container, your Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe will stay fresh and delicious for up to 3 days. Beyond that, it may begin to lose flavor and freshness.
Final Thoughts
If you love a refreshing, fruit-forward beverage that screams summer, you simply have to try the Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe. It’s easy to make, beautifully balanced, and packed with the natural flavors of ripe strawberries and bold tea. Next time you want to treat yourself or impress guests with a sip of Southern hospitality, this recipe will not disappoint. Cheers to sweet, strawberry-studded afternoons!
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Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Description
This Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea is a refreshing, sweet beverage perfect for warm weather. It combines freshly brewed black tea with pureed strawberry juice and sugar, then chilled and served over ice with optional fresh fruit and mint garnishes. Easy to prepare in about 30 minutes, this iced tea offers a fruity twist on a classic Southern staple.
Ingredients
Tea
- 4–5 family-size black tea bags (such as Luzianne)
- 2 cups water (for brewing tea)
- 4 cups cold water (for diluting)
Strawberries
- 4 cups ripe strawberries, diced (makes about 1 cup of juice)
- Frozen or fresh strawberries (optional garnish)
Other
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- Fresh mint leaves (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Brew the Tea: In a small pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Allow the tea bags to steep for 10 minutes, then remove and discard them.
- Prepare the Strawberries: While the tea is steeping, dice the strawberries. Place them in a food processor and puree until smooth.
- Strain the Strawberry Puree: Pour the pureed strawberries through a mesh strainer set over a bowl to separate the juice from the pulp. Reserve the juice and discard the pulp.
- Combine Tea, Strawberry Juice, and Sugar: In a large pitcher, add the brewed tea, reserved strawberry juice, and granulated sugar. Stir thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add Cold Water and Chill: Pour in the remaining 4 cups of cold water. Stir to combine and refrigerate the tea until it is thoroughly chilled, about 20 minutes to 30 minutes.
- Serve: Pour the iced tea over ice in glasses. Garnish with frozen or fresh strawberries and fresh mint leaves if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Use ripe, sweet strawberries for the best flavor.
- Adjust sugar quantity to taste if you prefer less sweetness.
- Steeping time is crucial to avoid bitterness in the tea.
- Straining the strawberry puree ensures a smooth, pulp-free tea.
- You can prepare the tea and strawberry juice ahead and refrigerate before combining and serving.
