Southern Iced Tea Recipes

SOUTHERN ICED TEA

Steps:

• Place tea bags in a 2 quart glass pitcher.
• Pour one quart boiling water over tea bags.
• Let this steep for five minutes.
• Remove tea bags from water, and press tea bags gently against the side of the container with the back of a wooden spoon.
• Remove tea bags from container and discard.
• Stir in one cup sugar.
• Add the remaining one quart of water.
• Stir, cool to room temperature.
• Serve over ice.
• If desired, garnish with lemon wedge.
• Note: You may store any leftovers in the refrigerator, but the tea will turn a bit cloudy.
• (This does not affect the taste).
• If you want to take the haziness out of the tea, you may stir in 1/4 cup boiling water per quart of iced tea just before serving.

SOUTHERN SWEETENED ICED TEA

Steps:

• Fill a 2 qt pitcher (that's pitcha in the South) about halfway up with ice.
• Clip the clothespin onto the side of the pitcher and"hang" the tea bags through it (keeps the paper from getting in the tea and makes the bags easier to retrieve- you don't want to be seen with your hand in the pitcher here in the South).
• Pour the sugar or Splenda on top of the ice cubes and now fill the pitcher up with water.
• Let sit about an hour, pull out tea bags and serve.

SOUTHERN SWEET ICED TEA

Steps:

• In a large glass measuring cup, place the tea bags and add the baking soda.
• Pour the boiling water over the tea bags.
• Cover and steep for 15 minutes.
• Take out the tea bags and do not squeeze them.
• Pour the tea mixture into a 2-quart pitcher; add the sugar.
• Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
• Add in the cold water.
• Let cool; chill in the refrigerator and serve over ice.

HONEY CITRUS SOUTHERN ICED TEA

Steps:

• Bring 4 cups water to a simmer in a saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags and let steep for 8 minutes. Remove the tea bags and stir in the honey. Let cool.
• Add the sweetened tea to a pitcher along with 2 cups ice and another 4 cups water; stir. Add the sliced kumquats (if using), key limes and lemon. Pour into glasses over ice and garnish with mint.

SOUTHERN ICED TEA COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Fill a quart Mason jar with ice. Add the rum, vodka and gin, lemon juice or lemonade, iced tea and simple syrup. Stir thoroughly, taste and adjust sweetness if needed; garnish with a slice of lemon and sprig of mint. As always, drink responsibly.