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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 8 |
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As a new Southerner, I wanted to make simple, traditional Southern recipes at home. Cold drinks are a necessity in Kentucky and the rest of the South. This recipe for Sweet Tea varies from normal recipes as it's 1) easier, 2) faster, 3) healthier for you, and 4) tastes better (in my humble opinion). Read more . The secret: honey. Herbal (caffeine-free) version: instead of black tea, use 1 tablespoon lavender flowers, 1 tablespoon lemon verbena, 1 tablespoon hyssop, and 1 tablespoon mint (or any other combination of herbs that smell great together). I use loose-leaf herbs and place them in stainless steel tea balls. Tools you'll need: 8-cup tea kettle, pyrex 8-cup measuring bowl w/ pouring spout and handle, 8-cup pitcher, strainer to match size of pitcher's mouth. Don't worry, these tools are a great investment and you'll find yourself using them for tons of other recipes. Total time: less than an hour and a half (almost all resting). Ingredients:
6 individual serving bags of black tea (i use newman's own royal tea) |
2 tablespoons honey (i use buckwheat honey) |
8 cups water |
Directions:
1. Boil 8 cups of water in tea kettle at high on stove top.
2. Meanwhile, place tea bags in the measuring bowl along with the honey. See Photo
3. When the water boils, pour the water into the bowl, directly over the honey. See Photo
4. Let steep for at least an hour. See Photo
5. Place the strainer over the mouth of the pitcher.
6. Slowly and carefully, pour the tea into the pitcher.
7. Discard the tea bags.
8. Place the pitcher of tea in your refrigerator until tea is cold.
9. Alternatively, place the pitcher in the freezer for half an hour to speed up the cooling (I always forget to remove the pitcher, so I don't recommend this).
10. Serve by itself in glasses, over ice, and/or with lemon.
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