Here’s the way we make sweet tea in North Carolina:
Bring a small pot of water to boil. Remove from heat. Add three family size tea bags and put the lid on the pot. I prefer Luzianne. If you have small tea bags, use six. Let steep about ten minutes; [Much more and tea gets bitter.] Remove tea bags. Pour hot mixture over 1 ½ cups sugar. Stir hot mixture to melt sugar. Add water to make one gallon. Refrigerate. Pour over ice when serving.
Do not try to add artificial sweetener to unsweetened tea. That stuff is not only nasty, it’s way worse for you than sugar. Drink tea like a true southerner. See how healthy we all are?
Fresh Squeezed Lemonade:
When I was a young bride I was at my Grandma Pittman’s house one day. She showed me how to make lemonade using fresh lemons. Chilled and poured over ice it’s even more refreshing than iced tea.
- Juice 6 fresh lemons using a juicer, or just squeeze the life out of halved lemons
- Add juice to 3 cups sugar which you’ve already put in your gallon container
- Now add 2 cups of hot tap water; Stir until sugar is blended
- Add cold water and ice to make one gallon
Wasn’t that simple? Since grandma had twelve children and the Lord only knows how many grands and great-grands, with all their spouses, we went through gallons of drink for any get-together. Her lemonade has always been my favorite.
If you decide to add lemon slices, don’t add them til you are ready to serve since they will make the lemonade bitter if left in too long. My niece Ashley says four hours is the maximum. She also makes the simple syrup from the first 3 ingredients and freezes it so she’ll be ready whenever she wants lemonade. But she is very efficient and is also early for every event. I, on the other hand, am thankful if I remember what day it is.
If you do not have fresh lemons, you can substitute bottled Real Lemon Juice. It’s almost as good and easier to keep on hand. Use the directions on the bottle for the amount equal to six lemons. [It’s about 1 ½ cups of juice.]
If you feel like being fancy and want your lemonade to be pink, add a few strawberries. This lemonade is also good served from a punch bowl with slices of oranges, lemons, and limes added just before serving.
See, I told you it was simple.
Grandma Pittmon’s lemonade was always the best. I can never do it as good as she did. I will try again! And she is the one that introduced me to Luzianne tea. And it did make a difference in the sweet southern tea. She was a true southerner and the love of my life.
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I am now the official sweet tea maker of all our church events using this method. It’s the only way to make sweet tea! This summer we hosted a group of World Changers and served them lunch every day…in 4 days they drank 21 gallons of my sweet tea! This tea is the best! Thanks for putting the recipe on here! Now I’m gonna have to try the lemonade! 🙂
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I love, love, love this sweet tea!! I am always asking Stephanie how she does it?! I do everything the same except I use one of those tea maker things and I guess it just steeps a little longer or something cause mine never tastes as good as hers?!?! LOL I am gonna try it on top of the stove next time and see how that turns out! Thanks for posting!! 🙂
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Hooray for sweet tea, lemonade, grandmothers, and friends! Love you all!
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Thanks for the recipies. It feels good when we see the good old southern recipies. Takes me back to being a child. Thanks again! Love you! Susan
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You are so right. Something about that lemonade and I am right there in grandmaw’s kitchen again.
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I’m not sure how I missed this post, since I make lemonade from this recipe at least weekly all summer long… Thank you so much for posting it. It’s gotten only positive feedback and I always give credit to Grandma *and* you for sharing the recipe. I’m glad my 7 year old will have memories of this lemonade when she looks back on her summers!
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Hooray for summertime and real lemonade, and best of all family! Thanks for commenting Caaren!
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I’m a California girl so I like my iced tea unsweetened but I will keep this recipe for when I entertain my southern friends. I agree, Luzianne is hands down the BEST tea I’ve ever had! But the BEST hot tea is PG Tips, it’s British and you can buy it at Harris Teeter. It’s what all my British friends drink. Only steep 2 minutes and then add a little “real” sugar and a drop of whole milk. Mmmmmmmm!
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