Description
This Refreshingly Sweet Strawberry Sweet Tea is the perfect summer beverage, combining robust black tea with a homemade strawberry syrup for a naturally sweet and fruity twist. Serve chilled over ice with fresh strawberry slices for a delightful, refreshing drink that’s ideal for warm days and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 4 cups Water (for brewing tea)
- 4 Black Tea Bags (or black-orange pekoe blend)
Strawberry Syrup
- 1 pound Fresh Strawberries, ripe
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 cup Water (for syrup)
To Serve
- Lemon Juice (optional, to taste)
- Ice
- Sliced Strawberries (for garnish)
Instructions
- Steep the Tea: Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add 4 black tea bags. Let the tea steep for 10-15 minutes to extract the full flavor. Remove the tea bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
- Prepare the Strawberry Syrup: While the tea cools, wash and slice the fresh strawberries. In a separate saucepan, combine the sliced strawberries, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of water. Heat over medium heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the strawberries soften and release their juices into a fragrant syrup.
- Strain the Syrup: Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the syrup to cool slightly. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve or mesh into a bowl or pitcher to separate the liquid syrup from the strawberry pulp, ensuring a smooth consistency.
- Combine Tea and Syrup: In a large pitcher, blend the cooled black tea with the freshly made strawberry syrup. Add a splash of lemon juice if desired to enhance brightness and balance the sweetness. Stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Chill the Tea: Refrigerate the combined strawberry sweet tea for at least 30 minutes to chill and allow flavors to meld beautifully.
- Serve: Fill tall glasses with ice and pour the chilled strawberry sweet tea over. Garnish with fresh sliced strawberries or lemon wedges for an inviting presentation. Enjoy immediately for a refreshing summer treat.
Notes
- Use ripe, fresh strawberries for the best natural sweetness and flavor.
- Adjust the sugar amount depending on your preferred sweetness level.
- Lemon juice is optional but adds a nice citrusy contrast that brightens the tea.
- Tea bags can be substituted with loose leaf black tea if preferred; just increase steeping time slightly.
- Store leftover tea in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days for freshness.
