Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

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If you’ve never tried sweet tea made the Southern way—with love, patience, and a homemade strawberry syrup that sings of summer—you’re about to discover a new obsession. This isn’t your average fruit-flavored tea; it’s slow-brewed, perfectly sweetened, and kissed with real strawberry essence in every sip. One glass and you’ll see why it’s so hard to stop at just one.

I remember my grandmother steeping tea in the sun while we picked strawberries from the garden—it was our little summer ritual. That memory inspired me to create this Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea, and it pairs beautifully with my homemade peach cobbler for the perfect Southern-style treat.

Why You’ll Fall in Love with Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

It’s not just tea—it’s tradition in a glass. With its smooth black tea base, the rich sweetness of homemade strawberry syrup, and that hint of Southern charm, every sip feels like a front porch moment on a warm afternoon. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or just craving something refreshing, this sweet tea delivers comfort, nostalgia, and pure berry bliss.

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Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea


Description

Juicy strawberries, a bit of sugar, and some lemons—along with just a few simple steps—make this Southern strawberry sweet tea an easy summer favorite.


Ingredients

Scale

Strawberry Simple Syrup

 

  • 3 cups strawberries, washed and stems removed then sliced (should measure three cups after they are sliced)
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • Sweet Tea

    • 3 cups boiling water
    • 3 family-sized Lipton original tea bags
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 8 cups cold water, in a large pitcher
    • 1 lemon, juiced
    • 1 lemon, cut into slices or wedges for garnish in glass
    • 6 to 8 strawberries (washed but leave stems on, with a cut on the bottom for garnish on the glass)
    • ice

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, add 2 cups water, 1 cup sugar, and sliced strawberries. Cook over medium-high and bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes, or until strawberries are soft and the liquid is a deep red color.
  3. Strain the strawberries using a mesh strainer into your pitcher. Press down on the strawberries gently, but make sure to not press too hard. You don’t want any strawberry chunks in your sweet tea.
  4. While the strawberry simple syrup is cooling in the pitcher, add 3 cups of hot water to a large bowl. Place 3 family-sized tea bags into the hot water and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags from the bowl and throw them away.
  5. Add 1 cup of sugar into the bowl with the tea and stir well.
  6. Dump the sweet tea from the bowl to the pitcher.
  7. Add 8 cups cold water to the pitcher and stir well.
  8. Add the juice from 1 large lemon to your sweet tea and mix well.
  9. Cover the pitcher and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours, or until very cold. Serve over ice and enjoy!

Notes

  • This recipe uses 20-ounces of strawberries. You’ll want three cups of sliced strawberries plus 6 to 8 strawberries for garnish.
  • For the most intense strawberry flavor, this recipe works best with very ripe strawberries. While you can enjoy it all year round, strawberry iced tea is tastiest in the summer when strawberries are in season and at their juiciest.
  • This recipe makes quite a lot of tea, so you’ll need either a very large pitcher or two medium-sized ones. If you’re not having a party and just want to make a drink to enjoy yourself at home, we suggest using smaller quantities of all the ingredients.
  • You can adjust the number of tea bags to vary the strength of your tea. For a stronger tea, add an extra tea bag and steep for an extra five minutes. For a lighter-colored tea, use only two tea bags and add extra water.
  • Prep Time: 30minutes minutes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 14
  • Calories: 123kca
  • Sugar: 30 g
  • Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 1g

Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea Ingredients

For The Strawberry Simple Syrup:

  • 3 cups of strawberries – use fresh for the most intense strawberry flavor
  • 2 cups of water
  • 1 cup of sugar

For The Sweet Tea:

  • 3 cups of boiling water
  • 3 family-sized Lipton original tea bags – or 9 regular-sized tea bags
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 8 cups of cold water
  • 2 lemons
  • Ice cubes
  • 8 additional strawberries for garnish

Ingredient Variations

Can I use frozen strawberries?
Absolutely! Frozen strawberries work just as well as fresh ones in this recipe. Just make sure to fully thaw them before using, so they can release their natural juices and sweetness. Once softened, they’ll blend beautifully into the syrup, giving your tea that same vibrant strawberry flavor.

Can I skip the lemon?
Technically yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The lemon doesn’t overpower the tea—it simply adds a gentle brightness that balances out the rich sweetness from the syrup. Even a small splash of lemon juice can make the whole drink feel lighter and more refreshing.

Can I use regular tea bags?
Yes, definitely. If you don’t have family-sized tea bags on hand, you can use regular ones instead. Just keep in mind that one family-size bag is equal to about three regular tea bags, so for this recipe, you’ll need nine regular-sized bags to get the same depth of flavor.

Can I spike it?
For sure! If you’re serving this at a summer party or just want to kick back with something a little more fun, adding a splash of vodka or bourbon works wonderfully. It turns this sweet, fruity tea into a refreshing cocktail that’s perfect for backyard evenings or weekend brunches.

How To Make This Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe

🍓 Step 1: Make the Strawberry Syrup

Start by simmering fresh or thawed strawberries with sugar and water over medium heat. Let them bubble gently for about 30 minutes, until the mixture transforms into a deep ruby-red syrup and the berries become super soft. Using a fine mesh sieve, carefully strain the syrup into a large pitcher. Press gently with the back of a spoon to release all that delicious juice—just be careful not to press too hard, or you’ll get unwanted pulp in your tea. Let the syrup cool completely before moving on.

Step 2: Brew the Te

Bring 3 cups of water to a boil and pour it into a heat-safe bowl. Add your tea bags and let them steep exactly 5 minutes for the perfect balance—too long and it might turn bitter. After steeping, remove and discard the tea bags. While the tea is still hot, stir in the sugar until it fully dissolves, making your tea smooth and sweet. Want to tweak the strength? Add an extra tea bag and steep a bit longer for bolder flavor, or reduce the tea bags and add more water for something lighter and milder.

🫖 Step 3: Combine Everythin

Once the strawberry syrup has cooled, pour in the freshly sweetened tea and give it a good stir. Then add 8 cups of cold water along with freshly squeezed lemon juice. This citrusy note lifts the sweetness and ties all the flavors together. Stir well, cover your pitcher, and refrigerate for at least 2–3 hours so it’s perfectly chilled and all the flavors marry beautifully.

Step 4: Serve and Store

When it’s time to serve, pour the tea over ice and garnish each glass with a lemon slice and a whole strawberry on the rim—it’s an easy touch that adds charm and that irresistible Southern flair.

💡 Make it ahead: This tea actually gets better the next day! Letting it rest in the fridge helps the flavors meld into something even more delicious. Store it in a sealed pitcher in the fridge for up to five days. Just give it a quick stir before serving, as the strawberry syrup may settle a bit at the bottom.

Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea

🥄 Final Thoughts

Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea isn’t just a drink—it’s a sweet little escape in every glass. With its rich, fruity syrup and smooth, refreshing tea, this recipe brings together comfort, tradition, and just the right touch of Southern charm. Whether you’re sipping it on a sunny porch or serving it at a summer gathering, it’s sure to bring smiles and requests for seconds. Once you taste it, you’ll understand why this homemade treat deserves a permanent spot in your recipe collection.

Have you ever made sweet tea from scratch before, or will this be your first time? 🍓💛

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