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Here we got stepping into my favorite month out of the entire year! June is here, we’re half way through the year and of course it’s almost time to celebrate my birthday. June is my birthday month and I do in fact celebrate all month long. 😉
Summer may not “technically” start until right before my birthday towards the middle/end of June but around here Summer starts today. June 1st is the unofficial first day of summer here.
We embraced it with open arms, open sunroofs and glasses of sweet tea and lemonade.
Along with the beautiful blue skies that graced our day we also got a typical southern summer thunderstorm. haha As I was walking out of the mall this afternoon the skies where bright blue, as I got closer to my car the wind picked up and by time I jumped in my car and shut the door the heavens opened up and the rain poured down.
It was over by the time I got to me house. That’s a typical summer storm for ya. haha I actually think that we’re getting ready to get another one.
Right now I’ve got pitchers of sweet tea, mason jars of limeade and jugs of water lining the shelves of both of our fridges.
Sweet Tea is pretty much like THE DRINK of the south…unless you’re in Florida. People in Florida haven’t mastered the art of Sweet Tea and that pretty much means that no matter how much I want to move there to be close to Disney World that it just ain’t gonna be happening. I suppose the farthest I’d really move is the Georgia Florida state line. haha
A glass of unsweetened tea and a few packets of sugar just isn’t gonna work for me. No Thanks.
If I’m going to be drinking sweet tea it’s gotta be the real stuff that’s made the right way.
Big Bear makes some of the best sweet tea ever. My mom loves it so much that she actually told me the other day that she wanted to start paying him to deliver gallons of sweet tea to her house every few days. haha.
Humm, maybe that’s the business that we should get into…making, selling and delivering sweet tea. haha now that’s an idea! 😉
So when you make your very own sweet tea make sure to serve it super cold and it’s always a nice touch to have a little lemon or mint on the side in case anyone wants a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint for their tea. I just like my sweet tea as is, but I do admit that the lemon and mint make it look that much cuter when it’s pour over ice in a mason jar.
Yes, in a mason jar…how else would you drink Sweet Tea? 😉
So excited to start this week’s #SouthernSippinDrinkWeek with this Southern Sweet Tea! Stay tuned this week for some more refreshing drink ideas!
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Southern Sweet TeaBy: Angie Barrett – BigBearsWife.com
Makes 1 gallon sweet tea
2 cups white sugar, we use Dixie Crystals white sugar for our Sweet Tea
12 cups water, divided
4 family size tea bags, we use the Lipton Family Size Tea Bags
Ice (about 1-2 trays of ice)
Mint and Lemon Optional
Bring 8 cups of water to a boil, remove from heat.
Tie tea bag strings together and dunk the 4 tea bags into the hot water.
Lay the tea bag tags over the side of the pot and let the tea steep in the hot water for 6 minutes.
Add 2 cups sugar to a large pitcher and pour in tea. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Add in the remaining water and the ice. Stir.
Chill until read to serve.
Mint and Lemon Optional.
Gorgeous photos!!! Makes me miss the south <3
Having always lived in Massachusetts I can honestly say I’ve never had a proper sweet tea. I’ve always wanted to make an authentic southern version so I’m pretty thrilled to have this recipe now.
I’m a June baby too!
I love sweet tea and I can’t wait to make this all summer long!
I have always wanted to try making southern sweet tea at home – my friend did it once and it was delish! Happy birthday month!
Sweet tea is certainly the drink of the South! Just about nearly every restaurant offers it. I like a little splash of bourbon in my special glass LOL
haha YES! Or Firefly SweetTea Vodka is perfect!!!
I love this tradition – great to have an authentic recipe from a bona fide Southerner!
During summer I shift from drinking hot tea to sweet tea so this is perfect – refreshingly delish!
Without you thinking I’m a psycho, you and I could be best friends! Lol! My daughter has a June birthday – she brings in summer every year. I’m a Louisiana girl and the one reason I won’t move to Florida, no matter how close I’d be to Disney World, is because they do not drink sweet tea! I make mine almost exactly like yours except I boil four cups of water (do it four times) and let the tea bag simmer in the water for five minutes before I pour it into my pitcher. Then after I’ve got the gallon, I put two and a half cups of sugar – pure sugar! – in it while it’s still hot and mix it up good! That is the one constant you’ll find in my fridge, all year round. (I call it my crack because I have to have it!) Enjoy your tea and your summer!
haha I don’t think you’re psycho! You sound like my twin! hahaha
This post has me feeling so ready for summer! Sweet tea is definitely not a California thing but I’m totally in!
haha looks like I won’t be trying to live in CA any time soon haha 😉
Angie, this iced tea looks perfect for a summer’s day! Definitely a thirst quencher. Amazing recipe!
I love this drink, I love your photos, and I’d LOVE to shove my hand through this monitor and take a big sip!