Southern Sweet Iced Tea

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of summer is sweet tea. Go anywhere in the South and you'll find it.  What makes "sweet tea" different from "sweetened tea" is when the sugar is added. Added while it's brewing, and you've got yourself some sweet tea. Added after the tea is brewed and cold and you've got iced tea with some sugar in it.

There are lots of ways to make it. As long as the sugar is added while the tea is hot, you're good to go. I like my sugar completely dissolved so I make a simple syrup with sugar and water.

Ingredients

2 family size bags of Luzianne tea
1 cup sugar (more or less as desired)
2 c. water (for tea)
1-2 c. water (for syrup)

Directions1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Turn off heat. Add tea bags and steep for 5 minutes.

2. Fill measuring cup with 1 cup of sugar and set aside. 

3. Heat water in tea kettle until kettle whistles.  Pour over sugar. Stir until dissolved.

4. Add tea and simple syrup to pitcher. Fill with cold water, stir and chill.

Yield: 2 quarts