Making Sweet Tea with Tea Bags on the Stove

Summertime is in full swing and making sweet tea with tea bags on the stove takes me back to my childhood and is a real treat that tastes like summer. All you need is ten minutes, sugar, and tea bags to make sweet tea that is mmm mmm good! 

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A half drunk mason jar with sweet tea, ice, and lemon in it on a brown table with greenery and a rustic sign behind it.

My mom would make the best sweet tea. She prefers unsweet tea herself, but the rest of us loved some very sweet tea. Oh my, it is so refreshing and easy to make. Something about having a glass of sweet tea makes you want to sit back, rock in a rocking chair, and talk with a friend.  

Tea bags hanging over a pan getting ready to be steeped.

How do I make sweet tea with tea bags on the stove?

  1. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan on the stove. 
  2. When it comes to a boil, take it off of the heat, and put 5 tea bags in it for 5 minutes. 
  3. You can throw the tea bags away or keep them for a stronger tea.
  4. Carefully pour the tea from the saucepan into a pitcher. 
  5. Add in 1 cup of sugar and stir until dissolved. 
  6. Pour in 4-5 more cups of water and stir.
  7. Refrigerate for at least four hours. The colder, the better.
  8. Serve over ice. You can add in lemon if you like.
Sugar waterfall going into a glass pitcher with tea in it.

What if I want a slightly stronger tea?

I like slightly, I repeat, slightly stronger tea. Instead of throwing the tea bags away, I leave them in the pan after I pour the five cups into the pitcher. I pour 4-5 cups of water back into the saucepan and let the used tea bags steep (sit in the water) for another three to five minutes. You don’t need to put it back on the heat for this. I then add that water to the pitcher. It is still simple and easy and is the way we like to have our tea. 

Do they make decaffeinated tea bags?

Yes! I buy and use the decaffeinated tea bags for my recipe. You don’t have to buy decaf, but it makes for a good option. 

Tea being stirred in a glass pitcher.

What type of tea bags should I use?

For this recipe, you will not want anything that says instant. There is a cold brew option that would work. The package that I currently have says, “specially blended for iced tea”. You may find that you have a brand preference, but this recipe isn’t brand specific. 

A rocking chair with an antique brown table beside it with greenery and a mason jar of sweet tea sitting on it.

What does tea taste like?

If you have never had sweet tea, you are in for a real treat. It is sweet and refreshing. It tastes light and has just enough flavor to leave you wanting more. 

Why you will love this recipe

You will taste the difference between making sweet tea with tea bags on the stove instantly. There are some restaurants that make brewed tea, but some do not. No need to be picky, but this recipe makes a deliciously brewed tea in minutes. You will love that this recipe is quick and only takes a couple of minutes. 

A person holding a jar of sweet tea with ice and a lemon wedge on the side.

Can I make tea ahead of time?

Definitely! You can serve it immediately over ice, but in my opinion, it is better when it has been refrigerated for a little bit. This tea is good for a few days. You may just need to give it a stir before serving. 

Can you double the recipe?

You can double this recipe. Multiply the ingredients by two. You don’t have to steep it longer though. 

Half drunk mason jar with sweet tea, ice , and lemon it it with a lantern and green plant in the background.

What does steep mean?

Steep just means to let it sit in the water. When you steep tea bags, you take the water off of the heat source, put your tea bags in, and let them sit in the water for five to ten minutes. 

Ingredients

Sugar

Tea bags made for iced tea (not instant)

Tools You May Need

Medium saucepan

Gallon sized pitcher

Storage

You can keep it in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. If your container has a sealed top, the tea will be good for 5-7 days. 

Overhead view of a mason jar full of sweet tea, ice, and bright yellow lemon.

How do you like your sweet tea?

To make a stronger tea, let the tea bags steep longer. The tea bags still have a lot to offer even after they have steeped in the water the first time. 

If you like a sweeter tea, add more sugar. 

However, if you like your tea less sweet, just decrease the amount of sugar that you add to it.

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Half drunk mason jar with sweet tea, ice , and lemon it it with a lantern and green plant in the background.
KeepItSimpleAnnaSue

Making Sweet Tea with Tea Bags on the Stove

5 from 1 vote
Summertime is in full swing and making sweet tea with tea bags on the stove takes me back to my childhood and is a real treat that tastes like summer. All you need is ten minutes, sugar, and tea bags to make sweet tea that is mmm mmm good!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course: Drinks
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 5 tea bags for iced tea
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5-9 cups water

Equipment

  • medium sized saucepan
  • pitcher

Method
 

  1. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan on the stove.
    Water bubbling and boiling in a pan.
  2. When it comes to a boil, take it off of the heat, and put 5 tea bags in it for 5 minutes.
    Tea bags steeping in a medium sized black saucepan.
  3. You can throw the tea bags away or keep them for a stronger tea.
  4. Carefully pour the tea from the saucepan into a pitcher.
    Tea being stirred in a glass pitcher.
  5. Add in 1 cup of sugar and stir until dissolved.
    Sugar waterfall going into a glass pitcher with tea in it.
  6. Pour in 4-5 more cups of water and stir.
  7. Refrigerate for at least four hours. The colder, the better.
  8. Serve over ice. You can add in lemon if you like.
    Mason jar full of sweet tea, ice, and lemon.

Notes

I like slightly, I repeat, slightly stronger tea. Instead of throwing the tea bags away, I leave them in the pan after I pour the five cups into the pitcher. I pour 4-5 cups of water back into the saucepan and let the used tea bags steep (sit in the water) for another three to five minutes. You don’t need to put it back on the heat for this. I then add that water to the pitcher. It is still simple and easy and is the way we like to have our tea.
To make a stronger tea, let the tea bags steep longer. The tea bags still have a lot to offer even after they have steeped in the water the first time. 
If you like a sweeter tea, add more sugar. 
However, if you like your tea less sweet, just decrease the amount of sugar that you add to it.

2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Oh my do we love some tea around here! I usually make ours in the sun – but this will have to be the next recipe we try! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

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