Food and Recipes Drinks Classic Sweet Tea 3.8 (4) 3 Reviews We love this sweet tea recipe because it's got strong tea flavor without being bitter, and it's sweet but not cloying. By Sheri Castle Sheri Castle Sheri Castle is an award-winning professional food writer, recipe developer, and cooking teacher with over 25 years of experience. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 5, 2023 Rate PRINT Share Hands On Time: 5 mins Total Time: 50 mins Yield: 2 quarts Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham The 9 Best Iced Tea Makers Of 2024 Ingredients 12 regular-size tea bags 1/8 teaspoon baking soda 1 qt. distilled or bottled water 1 qt. ice cubes 1 1/4 cups Simple Syrup Directions Prepare tea bags: Place tea bags and baking soda in a large heatproof glass pitcher. Boil and steep tea: Bring water just to a rolling boil in a saucepan or kettle, and immediately pour over tea bags, making sure bags are submerged. Cover and steep 7 minutes. Remove tea bags without squeezing; discard tea bags. Add ice and Simple Syrup: Add ice, and stir until ice melts. Stir in Simple Syrup, and serve over ice. Rate It Print