Drinks • Summer

Easy Sweet Iced Tea

Name: Easy Sweet Iced Tea
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 8 black tea bags, regular size; 8 cups water, divided; 0.75 cup granulated sugar; 0.25 tsp baking soda, optional; 2 cups ice cubes, plus more for serving; 1 lemon, sliced into rounds; 8 sprigs fresh mint, optional; 1 cup cold water, as needed to taste

Classic Southern-style sweet tea brewed strong, lightly sweetened, and served over plenty of ice.

Updated: Oct 6, 2026

⏱ 25 mintotal

8servings

90 kcalper serving

Easylevel

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Why you'll like it

Ready in about 25 min.
Serves 8 — easy to halve or double.
Easy level — everyday equipment only.
Storage, freezing and reheating covered below.

This Easy Sweet Iced Tea recipe takes 25 min and makes 8 servings. Sweet iced tea is a staple of warm-weather tables across the USA, poured tall over ice with lemon.

Helpful guides

Instructions

Step 1

Bring four cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from heat. Add the tea bags and push them under the surface with a spoon. Cover and steep ten minutes for full color without pulling bitter tannins from the leaves.

Step 2

Lift out the tea bags with tongs and let them drip briefly without squeezing. Squeezing presses out bitter compounds that cloud the tea. Discard the bags and keep the hot concentrate in the saucepan for sweetening.

Step 3

Stir the sugar and baking soda into the hot tea until fully dissolved. The small amount of soda smooths mild bitterness and helps clarity. Taste the concentrate; it should seem strong and sweet before dilution with ice and water.

Step 4

Pour the concentrate into a two-quart pitcher and add two cups of ice, stirring until mostly melted. Add cold water to fill the pitcher and stir again. The ice cools the tea fast and starts dilution to drinking strength.

Step 5

Refrigerate at least four hours until thoroughly chilled to 40°F or below. Cold serving keeps the tea crisp and slows clouding. If the tea turns cloudy, it is still safe; pour over fresh ice and stir before serving.

Step 6

Fill tall glasses with fresh ice and pour the chilled tea over the top. Add lemon rounds and mint sprigs if desired. Serve right away and return the pitcher to the refrigerator within two hours of pouring.

Troubleshooting — fixes, not repeats

If tea tastes bitter, it steeped too long or the water boiled with bags inside. Steep off the heat for ten minutes only. Removing bags gently without squeezing keeps harsh flavors out of the pitcher.
If tea clouds in the fridge, minerals or rapid cooling are usually the cause. It remains safe to drink. Pour over ice and add a spoonful of boiling water per glass to clear mild cloudiness before guests arrive.
If sweetness feels off, adjust in the glass rather than the pitcher. Stir one teaspoon sugar into individual servings or add cold water to soften. Mark the pitcher strength so refills for kids and guests match taste.
For parties, brew a double batch in a large stockpot and chill in two pitchers for faster cooling. Freeze extra tea in cubes so drinks stay strong. Keep sliced lemons covered in the refrigerator until serving time.

Make it your way

Old Dhaka style: For half-and-half Arnold Palmer style, mix equal parts tea and lemonade in each glass.
For a large dawat: Add sliced peaches to the pitcher for a party look.
Serving with rice or naan: Cut sugar to one half cup and serve with honey on the side for lighter sweetness.
Replace two tea bags with peach or raspberry herbal bags for fruit flavor, keeping steep time the same.
Kids enjoy the lighter mix over crushed ice.

Storage & reheating

Cool leftovers within 2 hours, then refrigerate in a covered container and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat only the portion you will eat until steaming hot throughout — poultry and reheated rice should reach 165°F (74°C).

FAQ

Can I use decaf tea?
Yes. Use the same number of decaf black tea bags and steep ten minutes. Flavor is milder and color lighter. Add one extra bag if you like stronger tea, and keep sugar and chilling steps the same.

Why did my tea turn cloudy?
Cloudiness comes from tannins binding as tea cools fast, or from hard water minerals. It is safe. Brew with filtered water and cool gradually. Pouring a little boiling water into a cloudy glass usually clears it.

How sweet is this recipe?
Three quarter cup sugar in two quarts tastes moderately sweet, near classic Southern style. For less sweetness, use one half cup. Serve extra lemon so drinkers can brighten their glass without more sugar.