(not so) Wordless Wednesday - Southern Style Sweet Tea

 

Southern Style Sweet Tea

• Bring 4-6 cups water just to a boil.
• Remove from heat and add 2 family size tea bags.
• Let steep - depending on how strong you like your tea...I usually let my sit for 30 mins to an hour. (I like my tea strong!)
• Add tea to 2 quart pitcher (minus tea bags of course)
• add water to fill pitcher
• add sugar or sweetener of choice (I use Stevia) - Other than brewing, this is the most important step to making tea the right Southern way.  Tea must be sweet enough for you to say "damn, this is sweet!" but not so sweet that you say "ughh, this taste like syrup".  It's a fine line. 
•  If you use sugar, I suggest about 3/4th cup.  You can go as low as 1/2 cup, but you are getting into Yankee territory there.  You can also go as high as 1 cup, but that's pushing the syrup tasting boundary.
• With stevia, it depends on the brand.  I am currently use NuNaturals NuStevia Extract - which is pure stevia and only requires 1/4 teaspoon to sweeten an entire pitcher! Awesome.
• Lemon is optional, but recommended.  That hint of lemon goes well with all that sweetness. 
• Mint is also optional, but a tasty addition.

Now you are ready to beat the heat - Southern style!

**Sun tea is also an acceptable method of making tea.  Instant tea is a sacrilege, only to be used in cases of extreme emergency.