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!