Southern Sweet Tea

Cool and Classic. Southern Sweet Tea is America's most iconic regional beverage, a staple at every barbecue, porch gathering, and family dinner below the Mason-Dixon line. Brewing it in a clay pot adds a subtle earthy depth to the tea that elevates this simple drink into something truly special.

Ingredients

• 4 family-size black tea bags (or 8 regular bags)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 500ml (2 cups) water for brewing
• 1.5 litres (6 cups) cold water
• Fresh lemon slices
• Fresh mint sprigs
• Ice

Instructions

1. Boil the water: Pour 2 cups of water into your donabe clay pot and bring to a rolling boil over medium heat.
2. Steep the tea: Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Cover with the lid and steep for 10-15 minutes. The clay pot keeps the water at the perfect steeping temperature much longer than metal pots.
3. Sweeten while hot: Remove the tea bags (do not squeeze them, this causes bitterness). Add the sugar and stir until completely dissolved. This is the crucial step, the sugar must dissolve in hot tea.
4. Dilute: Pour the sweet tea concentrate into a large pitcher. Add the cold water and stir well.
5. Serve: Fill glasses with ice, pour the tea, and garnish with fresh lemon slices and mint sprigs.

Tip: The secret to great Southern Sweet Tea is never boiling the tea bags, only steep in water that has just come off the boil. And always sweeten while hot!

Brew it with the real thing: Shop the Captain Cranberry Gooseneck Kettle.