A Twist on Southern Sweet Tea

There are many things that are done in the South that are done better than anywhere else on the planet! Fried chicken, cornbread, squash, grits, and black-eyed peas, are just a few of those things that come to mind.

 

Sweet tea is a Southern staple, and has been around for over a hundred years. In the late 1800s, sweet tea was considered a luxury, as the ingredients were so rare and expensive. At that time in our history, ice had to be imported, and was a very rare treat, indeed. Serving beverages with sugar, and especially ice, was a way to show off one's wealth to company and business contacts, and was considered the highest form of Southern hospitality. Today, sweet tea can be made for pennies, and is so simple to put together that every self-respecting Southern girl has learned to make this refreshing libation.

There is always room for variation, and while keeping sweet tea Southern, I am going to forsake the traditional recipe of steeping black tea in hot water for something a little more fun.

Twisted Sun Tea

Time: 5 minutes active

8 hours inactive

Level: Easy

What you will need:

Mason jars with lids and rings

Tea bags in flavors of your choice

Mint sprigs, lemon slices, strawberry slices, or other flavorings and garnishes

Sugar, honey, sorghum, or other sweetener

Cold water

Ice

 (this can still be imported, but I wouldn't bother)

Directions:

Put sweetener of choice into the bottom of each mason jar. This is to your taste, and amounts may be adjusted. I used 2 Tbsp of white sugar in each 1 pint jar.

Put one tea bag per pint into each of the jars. Again, there are no rules here. Use black tea, peppermint tea, green tea, or any other tea you desire. I am using peppermint tea today.

Add lemon slices, peppermint sprigs, raspberries, strawberries, or any other flavoring that you desire. Again, this is to your taste! Be imaginative, get the little ones involved in making their own! Have FUN!

Fill jars with water, leaving enough room at the top to add ice later on! Place the lids on the jars and screw the rings on, just hand tight.

Leave in the sun to steep for six hours, shaking once to mix in sugar about half way the steeping process, then refrigerate for at least two hours before serving. 

When ready to serve, remove the tea bag, finish filling the jar with ice, add a straw, and enjoy this refreshing sweet tea the Southern way; right in the mason jar!

And as always, please let me know if you try this!