Description
Peach Sweet Tea is a refreshing southern classic featuring brewed black tea combined with sweet, simmered peaches. This iced beverage is perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sugar and lemon juice for a delightful summer drink that can be enjoyed chilled and garnished with fresh mint and peach slices.
Ingredients
Scale
Tea Base
- 6 cups water, divided
- 3 family-size black tea bags
Peach Syrup
- 3 large ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
- ¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
Additional
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)
- Fresh mint and peach slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Brew the Tea: In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add the 3 black tea bags, allowing them to steep for 5–7 minutes. Once steeped, discard the tea bags and set the brewed tea aside.
- Prepare the Peach Syrup: In another saucepan, combine the sliced peaches, the remaining 3 cups of water, and the granulated sugar. Bring this mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the peaches soften and the mixture becomes fragrant.
- Mash and Strain: Remove the peach mixture from heat and gently mash the peach slices with a spoon or potato masher to release more flavor. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a large pitcher, pressing down to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the solids left in the sieve.
- Combine and Chill: Stir the brewed tea into the strained peach syrup. Add lemon juice if using, and mix well. Refrigerate the peach sweet tea for at least 1 hour to chill and allow flavors to meld.
- Serve: Serve the chilled peach sweet tea over ice and garnish with fresh mint leaves and peach slices if desired for a refreshing presentation.
Notes
- For a stronger peach flavor, allow the peaches to steep longer before straining.
- For a smoother texture, blend the peaches instead of mashing and straining.
- Adjust the sugar quantity to your preference or substitute with honey or maple syrup for natural sweetness.
