A Sweet Summer Classic



     Back in June when I attended the State BBQ Championship in North Carolina I was introduced to more than just chicken and ribs.  For the first time in my life I tasted the iconic Southern beverage, sweet tea.  It's a favorite for a lot of folks who live south of the Mason-Dixon Line.  Sweet tea is a great way to beat the heat and humidity of Summer in the South.


     Southern Living magazine in their August issue says that "making perfect sweet tea isn't difficult, but isn't random either.  It's the little things that make all the difference.  In the article Sheri Castle offers these tips:

Tea Tip #1:  Begin with fresh water each time.  Using water left in a kettle can give the tea a flat taste.

Tea Tip #2: A bit of baking soda keeps the tea clean and guards against excess bitterness sometimes found in tea's natural tannins.

Tea Tip #3: Tea bags should be fresh and aromatic.  Stale bags have no flavor. Store tea in an airtight container at room temperature.

Tea Tip #4: Cover brewed tea with plastic wrap before refrigerating to prevent it from absorbing food odors.

Here is their recipe:

Classic Sweet Tea

We love this recipe because it's got strong tea flavor without being bitter, and it's sweet but not cloying.

12 regular-size tea bags

1/8 tsp baking soda

1 qt. distilled or bottled water

1 qt. ice cubes

1 1/4 cups Simple Syrup

1. Place tea bags and baking soda in a large heatproof glass pitcher.

2. Bring water just to a rolling boil in a saucepan or kettle, and immediately our over tea bags, making sure bags are submerged.  Cover and steep 7 minutes.  Remove tea bags without squeezing: discard tea bags.

3. Add ice, and stir until ice melts.  Stir in Simple Syrup, and serve over ice.

Simple Syrup

This versatile syrup is the best way to sweeten tea because the sugar is already dissolved.

Bring 1 cup of water and 1 cup sugar to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally.  Boil 1 minute or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and cool 30 minutes.  Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.