by Amber · This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments
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This Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea is made with fresh strawberries and a homemade simple syrup, and is exactly what you need to cool you off on a sizzling hot southern summer day!
There really is nothing more satisfying than sipping on a cold glass of southern strawberry sweet tea after a long afternoon of playing on a hot summer day.
As a child, when I heard the screen door slam and the chimes of ice cubes chinking against the glass, I knew my mama's sweet southern syrup was on its way.
One swallow of this strawberry sweet teabrings me straight back to 1989 where my days were spent crabbing off the docks, swimming in the pool, and soaking up the scorching South Carolina sun.
Homemade Sweet Tea
As I've grown older, my sweet tea consumption has transitioned into a love/hate relationship w/ unsweet tea mixed with several packets of stevia because I could have 457,000 of them without worrying a wink about how many calories I've consumed, but I really just want to drink the real stuff, ya know?
I've never been one to add anything other than sweetener(or booze!) to my tea, but after one gulp ofthis southern strawberry sweet tea, I did anabout-face and forward marched myself straight back to the fridge for another glass...or three.
It honestly tastes as if you are drinking a strawberry straight from the vine.
Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe
When I got pregnant againI went out to lunch with my husband one day and he ordered a sweet tea. Up until that point, I had just been drinking water with my meals because I refused to consume artificial sweeteners with my baby in my belly. When he spoke those magical words my mouth gaped open and drool dribbled down my chin.
All of I sudden it hit me: I was the size of a semi barreling down the freeway sweating like my menopausal aunt, and it had been years, I tell you, YEARS since I last ordered a sweet tea of my own. If I didn't get a glass in my hand STAT the poor waitress and I were going to have some serious words.
One drop was all it took, and for the remainder of my pregnancy I ordered sweet tea every time we went out for a meal.
So the moral of the story?
If you are looking for a simple and quick, absolutely unforgettable recipe to make this Memorial Day weekend,just go ahead and make a pitcher of this strawberry sweet tea. I promise it will be such a hit that your guests will audibly swoon, your grandmother will stop asking if you're planning on wearing a cover up, and your kids will promise to let you go to the bathroom in peace.
Southern Style Strawberry Sweet Tea
Amber
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe
Calories
Ingredients
For the Strawberry Simple Syrup
- 4 cups fresh or frozen strawberries
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 ½ cups pure cane or coconut sugar or sweetener of choice
For the Tea:
- 3 Luzianne family size tea bags
- 3 cups water
- Strawberry Simple Syrup
Instructions
For the Strawberry Simple Syrup:
Add strawberries, sugar, and water to a saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Let cool slightly then pour the syrup through a fine mesh sieve into a gallon pitcher. Discard the cooked fruit.
For the Tea:
Bring water to a boil, remove from heat, drop in tea bags, and steep for 10-15 minutes.
Pour tea into the pitcher w/ the syrup and stir.
Fill the rest of the pitcher w/ cold water.
Chill completely then serve over ice &/or freshly frozen strawberries.
Enjoy!
Tried this recipe? Let us know!Mention @slimpickinskitchen or use or tag #slimpickinskitchen
More Non-Alcoholic Drinks
- Easy Party Punch Recipe (Slushie)
- Tropical Green Smoothies
- Pineapple Orange Green Tea
Reader Interactions
Comments
charlotte says
Oh I love this, i have to admit, I kinda cheated and made a strawberry "syrup" with strawberries and stevia, but if it wasn't for all you amazing Southern gals, I would have been making awful iced tea for ever. Iced tea is my favourite ( not drank) drink, thanks for the suggestion, and we are loving it here in Australia
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amber says
Using stevia isn't cheating! You have to do what works best for you. I haven't found a stevia that I can buy in bulk that doesn't have a super bitter aftertaste. Glad us southern girls can help the Australians out! 🙂
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Lol says
Cool site
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Kelly Bueker says
Oh my word! I just made your Strawberry Sweet Tea with sugar and it is amazing. I'm hooked and will be making this from now on for my special tea times. I drink iced tea all day with Splenda. I used to be a sweet tea person. To drink sugar all day had to quit. lol. I signed up for your emails too. Love your recipes. I love trying new recipes and collect old recipe books at auctions and yard sales too! Cool beans, Thanks!
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Amber says
Yay! That makes me so happy! I try to steer clear of Splenda so I use honey, stevia, or even Xylitol. Thanks for your sweet words and sorry for my late response! I'm currently on the mend from brain surgery. Getting better day by day 🙂
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Michelle says
could i swap raspberries for the fruit?? sounds amazing!
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Agness of Run Agness Run says
Very delicious and thirst-quenching tea! Perfect for the summer!
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Michelle B. says
Yes we southerners LOVE our sweet tea for sure! I know we are PICKY or at least I am! I use Lipton, some say they cannot tell, but honestly I just cannot use the off brand lol, anyways, I haven't tried strawberry tea! Will HAVE to! I HAVE tried watermelon and I absolutely LOVE IT! We have a place called twisted root burger that makes it and that's how I fell in love! Also, I saw you had brain surgery not long ago! 🙁 I am so sorry! My hubs also had TWO emergency brain surgeries back in May in ONE week! Was quite scary! I hope you are doing well!! And thank you for the recipes!! Love reading and trying my fellow southerners recipes! 🙂
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Amber says
Thank you, Michelle! I hope your husband is doing well. OMG! Watermelon tea sounds fabulous!!!
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Jessie says
Im excited to make this for Easter this weekend! My question is, your recipe says "3 family size tea bags" - how many regular size tea bags would you use? Im guessing they're different size?! Thanks 🙂
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Amber says
Awesome! It would be perfect for that! You'll probably need 6-8 regular size tea bags to make the tea if you don't have the family size. So, I'd go with 7 just to be safe! Come back and let me know how you like it!
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Ak47 gal says
Hi thx 4 the suggestion it’s bomb!
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Ak47 gal says
Also, I made it for my fam and showed them the recipe they were amazed! We love it here in Nevada!! 🙂 ?
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Angelica Dzvonik says
How long will the simple syrup last?
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Amber says
Hey, Angelica! I'm sorry I'm just now seeing this. It should last about a week in the fridge.
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Jennifer says
Can't wait to get started on some of these recipes. They sound absolutely amazing thank you. Put you in my prayers. God bless.
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Amber says
Thank you so much! Prayers from all over are so very much appreciated! Please come back and let me know what recipes you try!
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Let's taco 'bout it!
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