Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to know how to make Southern Sweet Tea! I’ve decided since I have gone a good four days with no Dr Pepper, I have to have something sweet with caffeine in it. It’s just the thing, especially since summer is here. :)

8-10 tea bags
pot of water
1 cup sugar
a gallon container

Add the sugar to the water and bring to a boil. Let it really get bubbly.

Add the tea bags, and turn off the heat.

Cover the pot and ignore as long as you’d like … between 30 minutes to an hour (or more).

Put tea into gallon container and add water to fill.

Notes:

My grandmother tossed the sliced lemons in with the tea while it was brewing. I don’t add lemon, because not everyone likes lemon in their tea. My grandmother’s tea was the best tea I have ever drank. I have not been able to duplicate it. Maybe there was some other secret too.

My grandmother also used ice to fill the gallon container instead of water. Cools it down instantly, but the first few glasses may be too strong for some folks. Personally, I always fought for the first glass of good strong sweet tea.

I prefer black tea, but any kind of tea will work. Though I haven’t tried this with an herbal tea (yet), it would probably taste great as well.

If you have them, a few fresh mint leaves finishes off a glass of sweet tea nicely. I never have them.

Now … go forth, brew tea, and enjoy! :o