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Southern sweet tea

A gallon of classic sweet tea. The pinch of baking soda is the old trick for smooth, never-bitter tea.

  • 15 min active
  • Serves 16
  • Tea & coffee drinks
  • Contains caffeine

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Southern sweet tea

Instructions

  1. Steep. Add tea bags and baking soda to boiling water. Steep 10 minutes.
  2. Sweeten. Remove bags and stir in sugar until dissolved.
  3. Dilute. Pour into a gallon pitcher and add the cold water.
  4. Serve. Chill and serve over ice with lemon.

Hosting tip: Don't squeeze the tea bags. It releases bitter tannins.

Make it ahead

Sweet tea keeps 3 days in the fridge.

Great for

Serve it at game day. Planning the whole drink table? See how to set up a mocktail bar, and use the party calculator to figure out how much to make.

What you'll need

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Questions

Does this drink have caffeine?

Yes, unless you use decaf tea or coffee. Label it on your drink menu so guests can choose.

Can I make it for more people?

Yes. Use the servings button next to the ingredients. Every amount updates automatically, from 1 glass up to 200.