If you’re ready to put a blissful twist on a Southern classic, Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight will become your new warm-weather obsession. This charmingly refreshing sipper layers the boldness of freshly brewed black tea with lusciously sweet strawberry puree and just the right amount of sugar. The result? A thirst-quenching pink-hued treat that’s every bit as gorgeous as it is delicious!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh, Juicy Flavor: Every sip bursts with the natural sweetness of real strawberries, perfectly balanced by classic black tea.
- Absolutely Stunning Presentation: With its rosy color and pretty garnishes, Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight is as eye-catching as it is delicious—ideal for parties, showers, and backyard gatherings.
- Customizable Sweetness: Prefer things a little less sweet? You control the sugar level to craft your dream glass, every single time.
- So Refreshing & Simple: This is one of those special drinks that feels more decadent than it is—made with just a handful of easy, real ingredients.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight only calls for pantry staples and a heaping handful of fresh strawberries. Each one has a place in creating that pretty-in-pink color and oh-so-refreshing flavor that makes this tea a Southern treasure.
- 4-5 family-size tea bags (I use Luzianne): These provide a bold, classic black tea base that stands up beautifully to sweet fruit flavors. Feel free to use your favorite brand!
- 6 cups water, divided: Some water is used hot for steeping the tea, and the rest is added cold at the end, ensuring your final drink is perfectly crisp and refreshing.
- 4 cups ripe strawberries: These are the heart and soul of the drink—choose berries that are fragrant and vibrant for the sweetest, most flavorful strawberry juice.
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar: Sweetens the tea and strawberries into a Southern-style treat—adjust this to taste if you like things a touch less (or more) sweet.
- Frozen or fresh strawberries, mint (optional garnish): Garnishing with extra berries and fresh mint leaves not only looks gorgeous, but adds a pop of fresh flavor and color.
Variations
One of the best things about Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight is how beautifully it adapts to your cravings, your pantry, or the season. Make it your own by swapping ingredients, adjusting the sweetness, or even sneaking in a little sparkle!
- Make it bubbly: Swap the final cold water addition for sparkling water to create a strawberry sweet tea spritzer that’s light and effervescent.
- Lemon twist: Add the juice of a fresh lemon or a few thin lemon slices. It brings an extra-bright, zippy finish that highlights the strawberries and tea.
- Lower sugar option: Feel free to use less sugar, honey, or even a trusted sugar substitute for a lighter take—just dissolve thoroughly in the warm tea.
- Berry mix-up: Try mixing in a handful of raspberries or blueberries with the strawberries for a different fruit profile and a deeper hue.
How to Make Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight
Step 1: Brew the Perfect Tea Base
Start by bringing two cups of water to a rolling boil in a small pot. Remove from the heat, then add your tea bags. Let them steep for a full 10 minutes—this coaxes out all the robust flavors and subtle tannins, giving your Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight its classic, thirst-quenching foundation.
Step 2: Make Fresh Strawberry Puree
While the tea steeps, wash, hull, and dice your strawberries. Pop them into a food processor and blitz until silky-smooth. Next, strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve—you’ll have gorgeous, fragrant strawberry juice for the tea, and you can reserve the pulp for smoothies or baking!
Step 3: Mix and Sweeten
In a roomy pitcher, combine the freshly brewed tea (remove the tea bags first), the rich strawberry juice, and your sugar. Stir, stir, stir until all that sugar has dissolved, ensuring every sip is sweet and smooth—not gritty.
Step 4: Chill & Serve
Now, pour in your remaining 4 cups of cold water. Pop the pitcher into the fridge so it becomes nice and icy. When you’re ready to serve, fill glasses with plenty of ice and pour over the strawberry sweet tea delight. For a fun twist, use frozen strawberry slices as “ice cubes” that won’t dilute the flavor.
Pro Tips for Making Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight
- Berry Picking Perfection: Use the ripest, reddest strawberries you can find—they truly make the flavor of this tea pop and lend that irresistible natural sweetness.
- Strain Smoothly: Don’t skip the straining step! This ensures your Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight is velvety and clear, with no bits to distract from that silky texture.
- Dissolve Sugar Fully: Stir the sugar in while the tea is still warm so it dissolves completely, avoiding any graininess in the finished beverage.
- Flavor Infusion: For a deeper herbal twist, steep fresh mint or a few strips of lemon zest with your tea bags, then remove before combining with the strawberry puree.
How to Serve Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight
Garnishes
No glass of Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight is complete without a flourish of fresh garnishes! Add a sprig of mint, a wheel of lemon, or a few vibrant strawberry slices on top for a striking presentation—and a burst of extra aroma and flavor with each sip.
Side Dishes
This sweet tea absolutely shines alongside picnic favorites like fried chicken, deviled eggs, pimiento cheese sandwiches, or summer salads. For a fun contrast, try pairing it with a tangy cheese board or salty crackers—the sweet, fruity notes play beautifully with something savory!
Creative Ways to Present
To impress guests, serve Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight in mason jars with stripey straws, or pour it into a crystal pitcher packed with ice and edible flowers. Mini glass bottles or cocktail glasses also make it party-perfect—just don’t forget those jewel-like strawberry “ice cubes” for a whimsical finishing touch.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight left (lucky you!), simply cover your pitcher and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay wonderfully fresh for up to 3 days—just give it a quick stir before pouring to blend the flavors again.
Freezing
For a frosty twist, pour extra tea into ice cube trays and freeze. You can toss these cubes directly into your glass on hot days, or blend them for a semi-frozen treat—kids and adults alike will be delighted! Full pitchers aren’t recommended for freezing, as the texture changes on thawing.
Reheating
This recipe is meant to be enjoyed cold and crisp, but if you’d like a warm strawberry tea for chilly evenings, gently heat a cup on the stovetop or in the microwave. Just be careful not to boil, as that can dull the fresh fruit flavor.
FAQs
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Can I use frozen strawberries instead of fresh for Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight?
Absolutely! Frozen strawberries work beautifully when fresh aren’t in season. Just thaw them first so they blend easily—your tea will still have that vibrant berry flavor and rosy color.
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How do I keep my Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight from becoming watered down?
To keep your tea bold and flavorful, use frozen strawberry slices instead of ice cubes. They chill your drink and add more berry goodness—win, win!
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Is Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight suitable for making ahead for parties?
Definitely! You can prepare the tea and mix everything together up to a day in advance. Just refrigerate, then stir well before serving with fresh garnishes to wow your guests.
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Can I use a sugar substitute in this recipe?
Yes, you can use your favorite sweetener, like stevia or monk fruit, instead of granulated sugar. Just dissolve it well in the warm tea to get that same smooth, sweet finish.
Final Thoughts
If you adore the nostalgia of homemade sweet tea but crave something just a little extra special, Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight is calling your name. Pour yourself a tall, ice-cold glass, kick back, and let those sunny, strawberry-kissed flavors turn any day into a true Southern celebration. Cheers to new traditions and sweet memories!
Print
Southern Strawberry Sweet Tea Delight Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Mixing, Boiling
- Cuisine: Southern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Enjoy the refreshing taste of Southern Strawberry Sweet Iced Tea, a perfect blend of tea and fresh strawberry juice. This sweet and fruity beverage is ideal for hot summer days or any time you need a cool, flavorful drink.
Ingredients
Tea:
- 4–5 family-size tea bags (Luzianne recommended)
- 2 cups water
Strawberry Juice:
- 4 cups ripe strawberries
- 4 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
Garnish (Optional):
- Frozen or fresh strawberries
- Mint leaves
Instructions
- Prepare Tea: Boil 2 cups of water. Add tea bags and steep for 10 minutes. Discard tea bags.
- Make Strawberry Juice: Dice strawberries, puree in a food processor, strain, and reserve the juice.
- Combine Ingredients: In a pitcher, mix tea, strawberry juice, and sugar until dissolved. Add 4 cups cold water.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate until cold. Pour over ice and garnish with strawberries or mint.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 38g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
