Description
This refreshing Strawberry Sweet Tea combines the natural sweetness of fresh strawberries with robust black tea, enhanced by a touch of lemon juice. Perfectly balanced and easy to make, this chilled beverage is ideal for warm days, serving as a delightful and fruity twist on a classic sweet tea recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Strawberry Syrup
- 1 pound fresh strawberries
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
Tea and Serving
- 4 family-sized black tea bags (or 12 regular-sized)
- 4 cups boiling water (for steeping)
- 4 cups cold water (to dilute)
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Ice, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Strawberries: Hull and slice the fresh strawberries into even pieces to ensure they cook evenly and release their flavor effectively during simmering.
- Make Strawberry Syrup: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sliced strawberries, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and 1 cup of water. Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
- Simmer the Syrup: Reduce the heat to low and gently simmer the strawberry mixture for 10 to 15 minutes until the strawberries become soft and the syrup thickens slightly, concentrating the flavors.
- Strain and Cool Syrup: Pour the hot mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl or pitcher, pressing gently to extract the syrup while leaving behind the solids. Set aside to cool completely.
- Steep the Tea: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a separate pot. Add the black tea bags and steep for 10 minutes to create a strong brew.
- Cool the Tea: Remove the tea bags and let the brewed tea cool slightly at room temperature, preparing it to be mixed without losing freshness.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large pitcher, pour the cooled black tea, the cooled strawberry syrup, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well to combine all flavors.
- Dilute and Adjust Sweetness: Add 4 cups of cold water to the pitcher and stir thoroughly. Taste the mixture and adjust the sweetness or lemon juice if desired.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the strawberry sweet tea until well chilled or serve immediately over ice for a refreshing drink.
- Garnish: Optionally, garnish each glass with additional sliced strawberries or lemon wedges to enhance presentation and add subtle bursts of flavor.
Notes
- For a stronger strawberry flavor, add some of the strawberry pulp back into the tea after straining.
- Adjust the sugar quantity based on your preferred level of sweetness or to accommodate dietary needs.
- Use filtered water for a cleaner taste in both syrup and tea preparation.
- This tea can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; stir before serving as ingredients may settle.
- Swap lemon juice for lime for a different citrus twist.
