With temperatures soaring , nothing ’s more hearty in the firedog days of summer than an icy stale , sweaty spyglass of mellisonant Camellia sinensis sip on the front porch ( or backyard , or poolside ) on a lazy Sunday .
I first discovered sweet tea — realsweet tea , Southern fashion — two ten ago when I was moving cross - country from New York to California .
I spent two weeks on the route , take the southern route and lead through Alabama , Mississippi , and Louisiana . I became convinced that I was a Southern gal in a former lifetime , because aside from Asian food , I bed lovelovesome full old - fashioned comfort food from the South , accompany by an icy glass of new - brew sweet tea .
After my umptieth chalk of sweet tea slug on that sweltering day back in June 2001 , I ultimately asked the kind peeress how to make it . And she expose to me the secret constituent of a rightful southerly odorous tea : baking soda water .
Now I know this might sound eldritch to most of you , but trust me on it . Or rather , trust the generations of sweet-flavored Camellia sinensis drinkers in the South who bank by it .
A pinch of bake soda makes a creation of difference in a pitcher of newly brew sweet teatime . How ?
Baking sodaneutralizesthe tannins in black teatime , giving it a smoother gustatory sensation .
This same trick function to take the acerbity out of unripened tea as well ; you may add a teeny tinge to a gull of hot tea as it ’s steeping .
While bitterness commonly happens when you brew your tea at too high of a temperature , or for too long , it ’s not something you’re able to eliminate entirely with good brewing praxis .
That ’s because the bitterness come from a group of natural plant life compounds in Camellia sinensis leave of absence called tannin . Specifically , these compound are polyphenols , which give an astringent taste ( recollect ruby wine-colored ) , and theophylline , which give a bitter taste . The longer you brew your tea , the more tannin that are released .
Tannins are most hard in green teatime and dark Camellia sinensis , so even if you brew your teajust decent , you ’ll still savor a hint of bitterness . bake soda , however , look at care of that !
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I like to make my tea somewhat fresh , but not too sweet , so your personal preference may be to add more or less elementary syrup . swarm the sweet tea over a glass full of sparkler … maybe garnish with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint if you ’re feel spunky !
Southern Sweet Tea With a Secret Ingredient
Makes 2 liters
Ingredients
For the Tea1/4 teaspoon broil soda8 cups red-hot water4 kinsperson - sized black-market tea bagsor2 Imperial gallon - sized tea bags ( LiptonandLuzianneare mutual marque formulated for iced tea brewing )
For the Syrup1 cup water3/4 cup sugar
Instructions
allow ’s babble out tea for a moment . I make out loose leaf teatime and buy mine by the Syrian pound from a Chinese Camellia sinensis shop ( thanks to my daddy , who isthetea connoisseur ) .
But for brew a freehanded pitcher of iced afternoon tea ( and bringing me back to that summer in the South ) , Lipton tea bags ( or Luzianne , if you really require to keep it genuine ) are cheap and commodious . That said , feel free to use any kind of afternoon tea you care here , though shameful tea is always a classic .
These are not the cold brewage bag , but iced tea bags that still expect red-hot piddle .
Typically , mob - sized tea bags are equivalent to four individual - service tea bags , and gallon - sized Camellia sinensis bags are approximately equal to two menage - sized bags .
They ’re labeled as “ iced afternoon tea bags ” because they do n’t turn cloudy when refrigerated . This is a debatable point with our hidden component though , as broil soda water helps get rid of that cloudiness anyway .
Add the baking soda and just - boiled red-hot water to a heating - proof hurler .
usurious your teatime bags for about 5 minutes .
Meanwhile , make the simple syrup by combining the water system and sugar in a little saucepan over medium heat . excite until the sugar is completely dissolved and remove from heat .
Remove the tea bags from your pitcher , force out as much liquid as possible with tongs .
Pour in the dewy-eyed syrup , stir , and let cool at way temperature . Refrigerate the teatime and swear out with ice .
Sweet Tea Recipe Sources
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Bob ’s Red MillPure Baking Soda| LiptonGallon - Sized Black Iced Tea Bags| LuzianneSpecially - Blended Gallon - Sized Iced Tea Bags| Anthony’sPremium Organic Cane Sugar
What ’s the secret to smooth - tasting iced teatime ? A mite of broil tonic ! It have a reality of dispute in a pitcher of newly brewed sweet tea by neutralize the tannins in black tea leaf , giving it a smoother taste .
Notes
Feel free to use any kind of afternoon tea you wish , though black tea is always a classic .
The Lipton and Luzianne tea bags urge for this recipe are not the cold-blooded brew bags , but iced tea bags that still require hot water . Typically , kinfolk - sized tea bags are equivalent to four single - serve tea bags , and congius - sized tea bag are about adequate to two crime syndicate - sized bag .
Did you make this recipe?
This stake updated from an article that originally appeared on June 2 , 2013 .
