10 Best Homemade Sweet Tea Recipes You Should Try

Sweet tea is a popular style of iced tea, common in the US, particularly the Southern States.

It’s a highly regarded beverage and often used as a refreshing summertime drink. It’s a fantastic option for cooling and relaxing the body from the hot weather.

There’re numerous ways of preparing this beverage, and every home has a unique recipe for making sweet tea.

Generally, however, sweet tea is prepared by adding sugar or simple syrup to black tea while it’s still brewing, although the use of artificial sweeteners is on the rise.

When it comes to serving, sweet tea is almost always served ice cold, and may be flavored, depending on your needs.

It’s a simple, and frill-free preparation technique that works well for most households and produces a tasty beverage.

However, few people are aware of other exciting sweet tea recipes.

Now, if you’re looking to expand your culinary expertise, this article is for you.

Here, we provide a detailed insight into some of the best homemade sweet tea recipes to consider.

Learning how to make sweet tea at home is super easy. I have compiled a list of recipes for cooking various sweet tea versions for you.

But first;

What Is a Sweet Tea?

It is a famous Southern drink prepared by adding sugar or simple syrup to a quick brew of black tea while hot.

Normally, sweet tea is served over ice to enhance relaxation and refreshment in hot weather.

Some people prefer making the tea and keeping the pitcher in a fridge to cool. It is the best option since the flavors get infused for better tasting.

At the same time, however, sweet tea is also a handy beverage during winter. The tea’s sweetness provides energy for the body to keep warm in cold weather.

Sweet tea comes in different versions. It creates an opportunity for tea enthusiasts to choose their favorite version.

But most sweet tea recipes encourage flavors of lemon, mint, peach, and raspberry.

10 Best Homemade Sweet Tea Recipes from Scratch

1. Minty Sweet Green Tea

Fresh mint leaves and green tea make sweet tea an excellent summer beverage. The sweetness is brought about by the addition of honey or agave.

Green tea is known to be one of the healthiest drinks in the world. It is rich in antioxidants which help to improve brain function, weight loss, and protection against cancer.

The bioactive compounds reduce inflammation and help to fight cancer. These compounds also help eliminate free radicals in the body to avoid cell damage against various types of diseases.

Green tea also contains caffeine that is a stimulant. It helps to keep an individual alert throughout the day. These ingredients play a crucial role in boosting brain function.

If you are struggling with weight loss, consider intake minty sweet green tea. The extracts help to foster metabolic rate and enhance fat loss.

The mint leaves add minty flavors to the tea. These leaves also come with some health benefits to the body. A combination of green tea and mint leaves is a real gem.

The mint flavors help to remove bad breath. It contains catechins which suppress the growth of bacteria to lower the infection that result in bad breath.

How to Make Minty Sweet Green Tea at Home:

Place crushed mint leaves in a pitcher.
Add green tea bags and pour hot water into them.
Allow the mint leaves and green tea bags steep for 2-5minutes.
Sieve the tea and add honey into it. Stir to mix.
Put the pitcher in a refrigerator for 4-6 hours.
Serve over ice and enjoy.

2. Raspberry Sweet Tea

Iced sweet tea is an excellent choice for a hot afternoon and springtime party. The refreshing taste of raspberry is satisfying and comforting.

Raspberry sweet tea has medicinal properties. Raspberry leaves have been used to induce labor during pregnancy and cure various health ailments.

The nutritional value of raspberries happens to be the reason behind the popularity of sweet tea. The tea is also suitable for non-pregnant women looking to live healthily.

The red raspberry leaves are rich in nutrients and antioxidant properties. These features help to protect the cells from damage due to oxidative stress.

Sweet tea contains a small number of ellagic acids which is crucial in the neutralization of carcinogens. Intake of the beverage will help to prevent cancer growth in the body.

The leaves also contain fragarine for toning and tightening of muscles around the pelvic region. The compound helps to reduce menstrual cramps caused by muscle spasms around the pelvic area.

However, drinking too much raspberry sweet tea could result in a mild diuretic effect and an increase in the rate of urination. It is recommended to drink about 1-3 cups per day.

There are several homemade sweet tea recipes online.

Below are some of the quick steps to consider when making raspberry iced sweet tea at home:

Put water and sugar in a large saucepan.
Place on the stove and heat to boiling.
Remove from the heat source and add tea bags.
Allow the tea bags steep for 3-5 minutes.
Discard the tea bags and add concentrate raspberry juice.
Stir in cold water.
Serve over ice with fresh raspberries and enjoy.

3. Blackberry Sweet Tea

Drinking blackberry sweet tea is an excellent way of improving your overall health. The refreshing blackberry tea is ideal for hot afternoon weather.

The delicious floral infusion tea is rich in medicinal properties. The beverage is popular in Europe, Asia, North and South America.

Blackberries contain vitamin C that plays a crucial role in the formation of bones, connective tissues, and blood vessels. Drinking blackberry sweet tea will also help to heal wounds and regenerate skin.

It is also the best choice for those people having a low-fiber diet. The high content of quality fibers helps to solve all digestive problems like bloating and constipation.

The blackberries contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to eliminate bacteria that cause oral diseases. The sweet tea can be drunk both in the morning and afternoon.

Preparing this homemade sweet tea is super easy. There are several recipes online that can help you achieve your goals.

Below are quick tips on how to make blackberry sweet tea at home from scratch:

Combine sugar and blackberries in a large bowl.
Use a wooden spoon to crush the blackberries.
Add mint and baking soda then set it aside.
Boil water and add some tea bags.
Allow the tea bags to steep for 3-5 minutes and discard.
Pour the tea over the blackberries mixture and allow to sit for one hour.
Sieve the blend into a large pitcher and discard the residue.
Add cold water and stir until the sugar dissolves.
Cover and chill until it’s ready to serve.

4. Rose Water Sweet Tea

It is an elegant sweet tea to use at a party. It has a unique touch of refreshment during a hot afternoon party in the backyard.

The sweet-tasting and aroma make the tea suitable for the family. It is also packed with ingredients that have medicinal properties.

Making rosewater sweet tea at home is super easy. You will only need to avail dried rosebuds to prepare your iced sweet tea.

Rose tea is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Antioxidants protect the body from oxidative stress. Vitamin C and E promote healthy skin. These vitamins also help to improve the immune system.

Rosewater sweet tea is a perfect choice for an individual with flu-like symptoms. The organic compounds alleviate coughing and nasal congestion.

Rose tea originates from China. It plays a crucial role in traditional Chinese medicine. The rose sweet tea is a natural remedy for menstrual cramps, digestive issues, and improving sleep quality.

These nutritional properties and values are the reason behind the gradual growth in popularity of rose tea in the country.

Making sweet tea at home is super easy. You need to have a tailored recipe to help in making your favorite rose water sweet tea.

Below are quick tips for making the sweet teat at home:

Brew rosebuds and tea leaves in boiling water for five minutes.
Sieve the tea to remove the tea leaves, and rosebuds remain.
Add honey and stir to mix. Chill the sweet tea for three hours.
Add rose water and serve over ice.

Read More:

What Are the Main Types of Tea

5. Apricot Lemonade Sweet Tea

The beverage is the best option for a special occasion. The tea has a tangy and sweet flavor from apricot nectar, lemonade, and mint.

Sweet tea is a perfect choice for people suffering from constipation. The high-fiber content and laxative properties help to foster smooth bowel mobility.

Apricot lemonade tea contains minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, and phosphorus. These minerals are crucial for bone formation and strengthening.

The presence of vitamins in the tea makes it ideal for the family. These vitamins help to improve the eyesight and general immune system.

The apricot is rich in catechins nutrients for preventing inflammation. People suffering from chronic diseases characterized by inflammation need to drink apricot lemonade sweet tea.

The copper and iron minerals from the apricot foster formation of hemoglobin. It makes the tea good for treating anemia. It is one of the reasons behind the popularity of tea.

Regular intake of apricot lemonade sweet tea helps in the elimination of free radicals in the body. These free radicals are known for causing abnormal cell growth and deterioration of DNA structure.

Learning how to make homemade sweet tea with lemon is straightforward.

Below are quick proven tips for making apricot lemonade sweet tea at home:

Pour water into a saucepan and bring to boil.
Remove from the heat source and add tea bags to steep for 3 minutes.
Discard the tea bags and stir sugar until it dissolves.
Cool for 2-3 minutes and transfer to a pitcher.
Add concentrate lemonade and apricot nectar. Stir in cold water.
Serve over ice with mint.

6. Cranberry Sweet Tea

The colorful tea has a sweet-spicy flavor ideal for winter warmer-upper weather conditions. The aroma from cranberry makes the tea mouthwatering and inviting.

Drinking cranberry sweet tea is safe for the entire family regardless of age. Cranberry tea is rich in nutrients and medicinal properties.

Sweet tea is a type of herbal tea ideal for facilitating the well-being and overall health of the body. It is highly rated and popular across the world.

Regular intake of cranberry sweet tea helps to prevent the occurrence of mouth sores and other oral infections such as gum diseases.

This healthy tea is an excellent option for weight loss. The organic compounds foster a faster metabolic rate and flush out toxins from the body. The process helps to burn excess fats.

Sweet tea is also suitable for cleansing vital organs like the kidney, liver, and lymphatic system. It is a useful detox for enabling these organs to function well.

Another useful property of cranberry tea is to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Patients suffering from stomach and breast cancers are encouraged to drink this sweet tea more often.

It also helps to reduce the level of cholesterol in the body. Hence, reduce all the risks associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Here are quick tips on how to make cranberry sweet tea at home:

Combine cinnamon, cloves, cranberry juice, frozen orange juice, and thawed lemonade in a large saucepan.
Heat all these ingredients over a medium setting for 7 minutes.
Keep stirring while boiling. Remove the cloves and cinnamon.
Add sugar and stir to dissolve. Transfer in a pitcher and store in a fridge.
Mix one cup of concentrate cranberry tea with two cups of water.
Heat to warm and serve over ice.

7. Rhubarb Mint Sweet Tea

Rhubarb mint sweet tea is a quick thirst-quenching beverage to consider. The addition of raspberries to provide deep red vibrant color makes the sweet tea inviting.

The rhubarb plant is native to Asia and some parts of the United States. The plant is highly used in Chinese medicine and ancient Greek civilization.

Sweet tea is an excellent source of vitamins and other vital ingredients. These organic compounds are essential for your well-being and health.

Vitamin K in the tea helps in maintaining bone health and blood clotting. It is advisable to drink rhubarb mint tea more often in your diet.

The vitamin A in the Rhubarb plant is ideal for fighting free radicals that cause premature aging and skin damage. Regular intake of sweet tea will help to keep the skin healthy and youthful.

The herbal tea also enhances healthy digestion and the prevention of digestion issues. It contains laxative properties that are the best option for the antidiarrheal effect.

The mint flavors are ideal for curing flu-like symptoms such as coughing and nasal congestion. The blend in this sweet tea is the reason behind the gradual growth in popularity in the USA.

The preparation of rhubarb mint sweet tea at home is simple.

Here are some of the tips and steps used in making this homemade sweet tea:

Combine water, raspberries, rhubarb, and mint in a stockpot.
Heat the mixture until it boils. Reduce the heat and uncover to simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add tea bags to steep for 3-5 minutes.
Strain the tea to remove tea bags and pulp. Add sugar and stir to dissolve.
Transfer to the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
Serve the sweet tea over ice and enjoy.

8. Iced Hibiscus Sweet Tea

Homemade Sweet Tea Recipe Iced Hibiscus Sweet Tea

Hibiscus sweet tea is yet another type of herbal tea. It has a similar taste to cranberry sweet tea. It can be served when hot and cold depending on the prevailing weather condition.

Drinking hibiscus tea tends to come with a wide range of health benefits. It is one of the reasons behind a rapid shift from caffeinated beverages to herbal tea.

This sweet tea is rich in antioxidant molecules that fight free radicals causing cell damage. These molecules also help to prevent skin damages and the buildup of free radicals on it.

Regular intake of hibiscus tea will help lower high blood pressure issues. The herbal tea is safe and suitable for the entire family.

Hibiscus sweet tea contains organic compounds ideal for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Low blood cholesterol helps to prevent the frequent occurrence of cardiovascular issues.

You should also note that hibiscus tea flushes out toxin elements from the vital organs. It is the perfect option for maintaining liver health and proper functioning.

The chemical content of the hibiscus plant is vital for facilitating faster metabolic rate and weight loss. Individuals struggling with weight loss and obesity are encouraged to include hibiscus sweet tea in their diet.

Here are quick steps for making homemade sweet tea:

Pour water into a saucepan and bring to boil.
Remove from the heat and add tea bags.
Allow the tea bags to steep for 10-minutes.
Discard the tea bags and stir in sugar until it dissolves.
Add lime and orange slices. Cover and chill for 5-6 hours.
Serve over ice and enjoy.

9. Peach Iced Sweet Tea

Peach iced sweet tea is an excellent choice for a hot afternoon. Peach tea is common in China and warm temperature regions of the southeastern United States of America.

You can serve the sweet tea while hot and over iced as a refreshing beverage. The tea is extracted from the bark and leaves of peach trees.

Peach tea is rich in antioxidant properties that protect the cells from damage. It can prevent the buildup of free radicals.

Regular consumption of peach tea will help protect against damage from the smoking. It increases nicotine metabolism and excretion among smokers.

This sweet tea also contains chemical compounds that reduce risks of cancer, eye diseases, and other health issues. The herbal tea has great nutritional value to the body.

Peach sweet tea is a perfect option for fostering weight loss, less abdominal fat, and low glucose level in the blood. Peach tea is an excellent choice for people with obesity.

Below is a straightforward and easy homemade sweet tea recipe to consider:

Combine peaches, water, and sugar in a saucepan.
Bring the blend to boil over a low heat setting.
Use a wooden spoon to stir and crush the peaches.
Switch off the heat once the sugar has dissolved and steep for 25 minutes.
Brew the tea in a large pot. Remove the tea bags and transfer them into a pitcher.
Strain the syrup to remove the peaches and pour into a bottle.
Serve the tea and add the syrup over ice.

10. Marian’s Iced Sweet Tea

Another popular sweet tea from the southern classic. The tea holds a sweet-tasting of mint julep with lemon flavors. It is an excellent summer-ready beverage for adults.

Preparation of this sweet-tasting tea is super easy. There are several recipes for making Marian’s iced tea at home. But most of these recipes depend on an individual taste and preferences.

This sweet tea is rich in nutritional value to the body. It could be the reason behind the gradual growth in popularity across the country.

Many adults love this sweet tea since it helps in supporting the immune system. It enables the body to fight various infections without seeking medical assistance.

It also contains some chemical compounds that support bone health and inhibits the spread of cancer within the body. These organic compounds also foster weight loss through a faster metabolism rate.

The antioxidant properties in the tea help to prevent the buildup of free radicals that causes premature aging and skin damage. It is the perfect choice for keeping the skin look healthy and youthful.

Below are quick steps on how to make Marian’s sweet tea at home:

Pour water into a saucepan and add tea bags.
Switch on the heat source and wait until it boils.
Remove from the heat and allow tea bags to steep for 30 minutes.
Discard the tea bags from the saucepan.
Transfer into a pitcher and add some cold water.
Stir the sugar until it dissolves.
Server over ice with a garnish

In Conclusion

Making homemade sweet tea is simple and straightforward. The tea comes with nutritional value and health benefits to the user.

Black tea and green tea are the best tea for making sweet tea. These types of teas have ingredients that play a vital role in the body.

Keep in mind that most southern sweet tea recipes entail serving the tea over ice. Addition of baking help to neutralize the tannins in black tea. Sugar is added to the tea when it has cool.

There are several homemade sweet tea recipes online. Most of the above recipes have been tested and proven to be efficient.

10 Best Homemade Sweet Tea Recipes You Should Try