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This Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea is smooth, fruity, and refreshing—perfect for warm days, BBQs, or front porch sipping. Using gallon-sized tea bags makes it easy to prepare a big batch for sharing with friends and family on summer afternoons!
Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea combines two Southern traditions: sweet tea and fresh summer berries. This recipe makes something a little more special than classic Southern sweet tea, by infusing it with the natural sweetness of ripe strawberries. The homemade strawberry syrup adds depth and complexity that store-bought flavored teas simply can’t match!
Whether you’re hosting a backyard BBQ or just enjoying a quiet afternoon on the porch, this Southern strawberry sweet tea brings all the comfort and hospitality of the South to your glass.
Nikki’s Recipe Rundown
- Taste: Sweet and fruity with bold tea notes and a hint of tangy brightness—summer in a glass!
- Texture: Silky smooth with no pulp, just perfectly refreshing!
- Ease: Just steep, simmer, strain, and stir to make a simple Southern classic in four easy steps.
- Pros: Serves a crowd, uses simple ingredients, and can be prepped ahead for stress-free hosting.
- Considerations: It needs proper chilling time, and as with any tea, it may stain plastic pitchers, so consider using a glass pitcher or large jar. (they can always be cleaned, though)
Ingredients Needed to Make Southern Strawberry Tea
- Black Tea Bags: The foundation of any good sweet tea. Lipton or Luzianne tea bags are both good options, just make sure to choose the gallon-sized tea bags, or use 4 family-sized tea bags.
- Water: You will need boiling water for steeping the tea, and cold water for diluting it.
- Sugar: To make the strawberry syrup, use regular, granulated sugar.
- Fresh Strawberries: Fresh strawberries provide the brightest flavor, but frozen work well in a pinch.
- Lemon Juice: Just a splash adds a lovely, tangy flavor!
- Ice: To taste!
- Garnish: Feel free to garnish your iced tea glasses with strawberries or lemon wedges.
How To Make The Best Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Brew the Tea
Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a large pot or kettle. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and let steep for 7-10 minutes (longer for stronger tea). Remove tea bags.
Step 2 | Make the Strawberry Syrup
In a separate saucepan, combine strawberries, sugar and 1 cup of water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Cook for 5-7 minutes, until the strawberries soften and release their juices. Stir in lemon juice (if using).
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to extract all the liquid. (Save the leftover strawberry pulp for yogurt, toast, or desserts!)
Step 3 | Combine & Serve
In a gallon-sized pitcher, combine the brewed tea, strawberry syrup, and 7 cups of cold water. Stir well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until chilled.
Serve over ice, garnished with fresh strawberries and lemon slices.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t rush the steeping process. 7-10 minutes, allow the tea to develop full flavor without becoming bitter.
- If you’re sensitive to sweetness, start with ¾ cup of sugar and adjust upward as needed.
- Use fresh lemon juice! Fresh lemon juice adds the perfect tangy flavor that you just can’t get from the bottled stuff!
- Chill before serving. Allow at least an hour of refrigeration before adding the ice and serving so that the ice doesn’t automatically melt and dilute the tea.
- Don’t discard the strained strawberry pulp! It’s delicious stirred into yogurt, spread on toast, or used as a topping for ice cream.
Variations and Substitutions
- Sparkling Strawberry Tea: Swap 2 cups of cold water for club soda or sparkling water for a fizzy refresh.
- Peach Strawberry Tea: Add ½ cup of peach puree or peach syrup for a juicy, fruity twist.
- Mint Strawberry Tea: Muddle fresh mint leaves into the tea or into each glass for a refreshing herbal flavor.
- Arnold Palmer Style: Mix half strawberry tea, half lemonade for a sweet and tangy combo.
- Sugar-Free Option: Replace sugar with monk fruit sweetener, stevia, or erythritol for a lower-calorie version.
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Recipe FAQs
Yes! Frozen strawberries work just as well—just let them thaw slightly before making the syrup.
Absolutely! You can replace the sugar with a sugar substitute like monk fruit sweetener, Stevia, or erythritol. Another option is honey or maple syrup, but keep in mind it will slightly change the flavor.
Yes! While black tea is traditional, you can use green tea, white tea, or even hibiscus tea for a unique twist.
Storage
Storage: Store your Southern strawberry tea in a tightly sealed pitcher or jar in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The flavor actually improves after the first day as the tea continues to infuse with the strawberry essence.
What to Serve with Strawberry Iced Tea
Southern strawberry tea goes best with a classic Southern spread like crispy fried pork chops or golden oven-fried chicken as your main dish, with savory collard greens and creamy Southern potato salad.
Don’t forget to serve a sweet treat after like Southern butter pecan pound cake or banana icebox cake. If you’re entertaining, try serving it with appetizers like crispy fried grits cakes or million dollar dip served with crackers or crudités. The bright, fruity sweetness of the strawberry tea provides the perfect balance to these rich, savory Southern classics!
Other Recipes to Try
- Frosted Lemonade Recipe
- Classic Egg Salad
- Blackberry Wish Cocktail
- Best Sausage Gravy
- Mini BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatloaf
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Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea
Ingredients
- 1 gallon-sized black tea bags, Luzianne or Lipton work great (4 family size tea bags or 16 regular size tea bags)
- 8 cups boiling water, for steeping
- 8 cups cold water, for dilution, divided
Strawberry Syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar, adjust to taste
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced (or frozen, thawed)
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice, optional, for brightness
For Serving
- Ice, for serving
- Fresh strawberry slices & lemon wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- Brew the Tea: Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a large pot or kettle. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and let steep for 7-10 minutes (longer for stronger tea). Remove tea bags.1 gallon-sized black tea bags, 8 cups boiling water
- Make the Strawberry Syrup: In a separate saucepan, combine strawberries, sugar, and 1 cup of water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until the strawberries soften and release their juices. Stir in lemon juice (if using). Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to extract all the liquid. (Save the leftover strawberry pulp for yogurt, toast, or desserts!)1 cup granulated sugar, 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- Combine & Serve: In a gallon-sized pitcher, combine the brewed tea, strawberry syrup, and 7 cups of cold water. Stir well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until chilled. Serve over ice, garnished with fresh strawberries and lemon slices.8 cups cold water
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
Notes
- Don’t rush the steeping process. 7-10 minutes, allow the tea to develop full flavor without becoming bitter.
- If you’re sensitive to sweetness, start with ¾ cup of sugar and adjust upward as needed.
- Use fresh lemon juice! Fresh lemon juice adds the perfect tangy flavor that you just can’t get from the bottled stuff!
- Chill before serving. Allow at least an hour of refrigeration before adding the ice and serving so that the ice doesn’t automatically melt and dilute the tea.
- Don’t discard the strained strawberry pulp! It’s delicious stirred into yogurt, spread on toast, or used as a topping for ice cream.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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