Strawberry sweet iced tea is a fruity, refreshing beverage made with black tea and homemade strawberry simple syrup. This is the perfect drink to cool off on a hot day!
Join me in celebrating Juneteenth with more than 30 other Black culinary creators. Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day, signifying the final emancipation of those enslaved in the US announced in 1865. This year, we are celebrating "Freedom Day" by offering a delightful selection of mains, sides, desserts, and refreshing drinks that are perfect for backyard barbecues and summer gatherings with friends and family.
Join us in honoring the legacy of progress and freedom by cooking and sharing these recipes. Additionally, you can easily follow each participant by using the hashtag #JuneteenthCookout2023 on Instagram. You can find a list of all recipes from the 2023 Juneteenth Virtual Cookout on the Eat the Culture website.
Strawberry sweet tea is an excellent beverage to serve at all of your summer cookouts and the beautiful red color makes it perfect for Juneteenth!
For more classic Southern recipes, check out our Old Fashioned Southern Tea Cakes and Old Fashioned Banana Pudding recipes next!
Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe
Measurements and detailed recipe instructions are in the recipe card located at the bottom of this post.
- Tea bags. Southern sweet tea is made with black tea. You can use regular or family-size tea bags. I prefer Luzianne brand.
- Water. For making the tea and strawberry syrup.
- Frozen strawberries. Frozen strawberries are cooked with sugar and water to create a simple syrup. You can also use fresh strawberries if you prefer.
- Sugar. To make the strawberry simple syrup. Southern tea is pretty sweet so feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to your liking.
- Baking soda. A small amount of baking soda helps neutralize the bitterness of black tea and helps the tea stay fresher for longer.
- Fresh strawberries and sliced lemon. For serving.
How To Make This Recipe
- Add four cups of water to a large saucepan and bring it to a boil. Once the water comes to a boil, remove the pan from the heat and place the 4 tea bags in the hot water. Steep the tea bags for 5 minutes then remove and discard them. Do not squeeze the tea bags - allow the liquid to drain from them into the pot. Allow the tea to cool.
- Add the frozen strawberries, sugar, and water to a medium saucepan and heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring regularly, until the sugar dissolves. Continue to cook for 10 to 12 more minutes until the strawberries begin to break down and the liquid is red.
- Mash the strawberries against the pot with the back of a wooden spoon and allow the syrup to cool in the pot. Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl, gently pressing the strawberries against the strainer with the spoon to get all of the liquid.
- Pour the tea, strawberry syrup, and baking soda into a gallon pitcher and mix well with a long spoon. Add four cups of cold water and stir until well combined. Add fresh sliced strawberries, lemon slices, and ice to the pitcher if serving immediately, or pour the tea into glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with fresh strawberries and lemon slices.
Variations and Substitutions
- This recipe can be made with two cups of fresh, hulled strawberries instead of frozen strawberries.
- Make this tea using 12 regular tea bags if you do not have family size.
- Try replacing some of the sugar with honey for a subtle floral flavor.
Can I Use Other Kinds of Fruit in This Recipe?
Absolutely! Feel free to make this sweet tea with some of the following fruits:
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Mangos
- Pineapples
- Oranges
- Cranberries
- Pomegranates
More FAQs
Baking soda is added to sweet tea to help neutralize the bitterness of black tea and to give it a smooth taste. It also helps keep the tea fresher for longer.
Freshly brewed sweet iced tea is best when consumed within a day but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Sweet iced tea became popular in the South after prohibition and has remained one of the most popular beverages due to how refreshing it is during the hot summer months.
What To Serve With Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea
This beverage makes a tasty, refreshing accompaniment to just about any meal but is particularly popular during the warmer months. Try serving this iced tea with some of the following Southern dishes:
- Southern Fried Okra
- Southern Fried Green Tomatoes
- BBQ Chicken Sliders
- Cajun Shrimp Deviled Eggs
- Southern Hush Puppies
- Southern Deviled Eggs
- Oven Fried Catfish
- Grilled Pimento Cheese Stuffed Burgers
- Southern Salmon Croquettes
- Cajun Shrimp and Grits
- Southern Buttermilk Pie
- Best Ever Bread Pudding
Recommended Tools For This Recipe
More Southern Recipes You Will Love!
- Louisianan Red Beans and Rice
- Cajun Jambalaya Pasta
- Southern Smothered Chicken
- Hot Water Cornbread
- Sweet Cornbread Muffins
- Sweet Potato Cornbread
- Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
- Southern Baked Mac and Cheese
- Soul Food Candied Yams
- Sock It To Me Cake
- Hummingbird Cupcakes
- Bananas Foster French Toast
📖 Recipe
Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 9 cups water divided, 4 cups for brewing tea, 1 cup for strawberry simple syrup, and 4 cups cold water for finishing the tea
- 4 family-size tea bags or 12 regular-size bags
- 16 ounces frozen strawberries whole
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- Fresh sliced strawberries and lemons for serving
Instructions
- Add four cups of water to a large saucepan and bring it to a boil. Once the water comes to a boil, remove the pan from the heat and place the 4 tea bags in the hot water. Steep the tea bags for 5 minutes then remove and discard them. Do not squeeze the tea bags - allow the liquid to drain from them into the pot. Allow the tea to cool.
- Meanwhile, add the frozen strawberries, sugar, and 1 cup of water to a medium saucepan and heat the mixture over medium-high heat, stirring regularly, until the sugar dissolves. Continue to cook for 10 to 12 more minutes until the strawberries begin to break down and the liquid is red.
- Mash some of the strawberries against the pot with the back of a wooden spoon and allow the syrup to cool in the pot. Once cooled, strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl, gently pressing the strawberries against the strainer with the spoon to get all of the liquid.
- Pour the tea, strawberry syrup, and baking soda into a gallon pitcher and mix well with a long spoon. Add four cups of cold water and stir until well combined. Add fresh sliced strawberries, lemon slices, and ice to the pitcher if serving immediately, or pour the tea into glasses filled with ice. Garnish each glass with fresh strawberries and lemon slices.
Notes
-
- This recipe can be made with two cups of fresh, hulled strawberries instead of frozen strawberries.
- Make this tea using 12 regular tea bags if you do not have family-size bags.
- Strawberry tea can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
More Delicious Juneteenth Recipes!
The Great Migration (Soul Food Classics)
Amid the Great Migration, countless African Americans departed from the Southern states. They relocated throughout the United States, carrying vibrant culinary traditions, which they adapted to suit their new homes. Some remained the Soul Food Classics, such as Southern Baked Beans and Old-Fashioned Candied Yams, while others, like Chesapeake Bay Crab Feast and Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea, were new renditions of old favorites.
- Sweet Tea + Thyme- Chesapeake Bay Crab Feast
- Meiko And The Dish - BBQ Beef Plate Ribs
- Good Food Baddie - Grilled BBQ Spatchcock Chicken
- Kenneth Temple - Southern Potato Salad
- Pink Owl Kitchen - Southern Baked Beans
- Britney Breaks Bread - Old Fashioned Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Britney Breaks Bread - Classic Red Velvet Cake
You can find a list of all recipes from the 2023 Juneteenth Virtual Cookout on the Eat the Culture website.
Share Your Thoughts!