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Delightful Strawberry Sweet Tea

Category: Drinks

This lively Southern drink mixes bold black tea with sweet strawberry syrup for a fresh, balanced taste. Fresh strawberries get gently cooked with sugar and water to make a rich syrup. Then it’s combined with brewed black tea sweetened just right to bring out the flavors. A pinch of baking soda smooths the sharpness while cold water makes it crisp and cool. Pour it over ice and top with mint and strawberry slices for a fresh touch. Perfect for lazy warm days or casual hangouts, it’s sweet and a little tangy, just how we like it.

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Dana
Recipe Created By Dana
Last updated on Fri, 03 Oct 2025 19:00:02 GMT
Glass filled with strawberry lemonade and fresh strawberries inside. Save
Glass filled with strawberry lemonade and fresh strawberries inside. | chefsnaps.com

This fruity twist on classic Southern sweet tea bursts with juicy strawberry flavor. The mix of sweet berries and strong black tea makes a lively drink that’s great for hot days or fun get-togethers.

I tried making this on a warm weekend to boost a family picnic. It quickly turned into the favorite drink for everyone.

What You’ll Need

  • 8 tea bags black tea or 3 tbsp loose leaf: brings a rich, full-bodied taste—pick good quality for best results
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries: sliced and cleaned to give a sweet, tangy kick—use ripe ones for the best flavor
  • 1 cup water: to gently cook the strawberries and sugar into a yummy syrup
  • 3/4 cup sugar: to sweeten the tea and smooth out its bitterness
  • 1 cup sugar: for making that thick strawberry syrup, but feel free to tweak this if you want it less sweet
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda: optional, helps soften acidity and makes the tea smooth
  • 4 cups boiling water: to brew your strong tea base
  • 4 cups cold water: to mix in last, cooling down the tea and lightening it up perfectly
  • Ice cubes for serving: to keep your drink ice-cold
  • Mint and extra strawberries: great for a fresh and pretty finish when serving

Step-by-Step Instructions

Make Strawberry Syrup:
In a saucepan, cook strawberries with one cup sugar and one cup water over medium heat until soft and syrupy, about 10 to 15 minutes. This syrup packs the berry flavor.
Strain the Syrup:
Pour the mix through a fine strainer into a bowl or pitcher. Toss the seeds and pulp and let the liquid cool to sharpen that sweet berry taste.
Brew the Tea:
Put the tea bags or loose leaves into a container. Pour on the boiling water and steep for 5 to 10 minutes depending on how strong you like it. This gives you a rich tea base.
Add Sweetness:
Mix the 3/4 cup sugar and baking soda (if you want) into the hot tea. Stir well until everything dissolves and the taste smooths out.
Mix Syrup and Tea:
Take out the tea bags or strain leaves. Slowly pour in the cooled strawberry syrup and gently stir to blend the flavors.
Chill and Dilute:
Add the 4 cups of cold water to cool and mellow the drink. Put it in the fridge for at least two hours so the flavors get friendly.
Ready to Serve:
Fill glasses with ice cubes, pour in the chilled strawberry tea, and top with fresh strawberry slices and mint sprigs if you like. Enjoy the fresh taste and look.
Strawberry sweet tea in a jar with strawberries inside.
Strawberry sweet tea in a jar with strawberries inside. | chefsnaps.com

My grandma always served iced tea at our summer get-togethers. Adding fresh strawberries feels like a fun, happy upgrade that brings back good memories while making today’s moments tastier.

How to Store It Right

Keep leftover tea in a sealed pitcher or bottle in the fridge for up to three days. Store the strawberry syrup separately if you can and mix it in before serving to keep it fresh. If it separates after chilling, just give it a gentle stir before pouring.

Ways to Switch It Up

You can swap black tea for green or white tea for a lighter, refreshing flavor that still works great with strawberries. Try adding fresh basil leaves when cooking the syrup for a cool twist. Swap sugar for honey or agave syrup if you want a more natural sweet touch with a little extra depth.

Great Things to Serve With It

Pair your drink with crisp cucumber sandwiches or fresh fruit for a light, fancy afternoon snack. Rich desserts like lemon bars or pound cake add a perfect citrusy or buttery note. You can also add a splash of fizzy water to glasses for a fun strawberry spritzer twist.

A glass of Southern strawberry sweet tea.
A glass of Southern strawberry sweet tea. | chefsnaps.com

This strawberry sweet tea always brightens my day with its fresh color and balanced taste. Let it chill a couple of hours in the fridge to let all the flavors blend and to get that cool, refreshing sip you’re after.

Frequently Asked Cooking Questions

→ Why add fresh strawberries to the tea?

Cooking fresh strawberries brings out their natural sweetness and bright fruity flavor, jazzing up the tea.

→ What does baking soda do in this drink?

It gently tames the sharp edges of the tea, making it smoother and less acidic without killing the fruit flavor.

→ Can I use loose leaf tea instead of bags?

Definitely, loose leaf black tea works great. Just brew it until it’s as strong as you like for a deeper taste.

→ How long should I chill the tea before serving?

Keep it in the fridge for a minimum of two hours so all the flavors mix well and it's nice and cold.

→ What’s best for garnishing this sweet tea?

Strawberry slices and a few mint sprigs look great and add a fresh, tasty scent when you drink it.

→ Can I change how sweet the tea is?

For sure, you can adjust the sugar in both the strawberry syrup and the tea until it’s just how you want it.

Strawberry Sweet Tea

A cool, fruity Southern sweet tea mixed with fresh strawberries and a touch of mint for a refreshing drink.

Preparation Duration
15 minutes
Time to Cook
20 minutes
Overall Time
35 minutes
Recipe Created By: Dana

Type of Recipe: Drinks

Cooking Skill Level: Simple for Beginners

Cuisine Style: Southern USA

Serving Amount: 8 Number of Servings

Dietary Options: Perfect for Vegans, Great for Vegetarians, Free From Gluten, No Dairy Included

Ingredients You'll Need

→ Syrup

01 Slice 300 g fresh strawberries after removing tops
02 200 g white sugar
03 240 ml water

→ Tea Mix

04 Nine grams loose black tea or 8 black tea bags
05 Cold water, 960 ml
06 960 ml boiling water
07 150 g white sugar
08 Optional: 1/4 tsp (1.25 ml) baking soda

→ To Serve

09 Ice cubes
10 Mint leaves for topping, if you want
11 Strawberry slices to decorate, optional

Detailed Preparation Steps

Step 01

Put water, strawberries, and 200 g sugar in a medium pan. Cook over medium heat. Let it bubble gently for 10 to 15 minutes till thick and strawberries are soft.

Step 02

Pour syrup through a fine sieve into a bowl or jug. Throw away the solids. Let the syrup cool down fully.

Step 03

Steep tea bags or loose leaves in 960 ml hot water. Wait 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong you want it.

Step 04

While tea is hot, stir in 150 g sugar and the baking soda if using. Mix until sugar is gone.

Step 05

Take out tea bags. Let the tea cool a bit. Pour in the cooled strawberry syrup and stir well.

Step 06

Pour in 960 ml cold water and mix. Put it in the fridge for at least 2 hours to get nicely chilled.

Step 07

Serve cold over ice. Add fresh strawberry slices and mint leaves if you like.

Helpful Tips

  1. Feel free to cut the sugar or add more. Keeping the syrup in the fridge overnight makes the flavor stronger.
  2. Good black tea really brings out the taste.
  3. Topping with strawberries and mint makes it look great.

Essential Kitchen Tools

  • Medium pan
  • Fine sieve
  • Large bowl or jug

Nutrition Information (Per Portion)

Nutrition facts are provided for reference and don’t replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 220
  • Fat Content: ~
  • Carbohydrate Amount: 58 grams
  • Protein Content: 0.5 grams