I suppose I should have tried to make and drink a true Southern sweet tea, but I just can’t bring myself to add a whopping 3 cups of sugar to a large pitcher of iced tea. But cut that amount of sugar in half and add a bunch of freshly squeezed lime juice? Count me in.Since I’m a huge fan of Arnold Palmers (the drink, the man, the clubs), I’m not sure why I never thought to add a citrus other than lemon to my tea. Well my friends, I’m happy to say the lime works. In fact I might even like this version better than iced tea with lemons. And while I kept it somewhat traditional by using sugar in this batch, next time I’ll be using my new favorite sweetener, stevia. Stevia, a natural and calorie-free sweetener, doesn’t always work as a perfect substitute for sugar, but I love how it tastes in beverages.
This tea will definitely give you a little extra pep in your step. I was drinking this all last weekend and felt like the energizer bunny.
Southern Sweet Lime Tea* 14 cups water, divided
* 12 black tea bags
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar
* 4 limes, juiced, plus extra for garnish, if desired
Bring 12 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Let steep for 5 minutes and then remove and discard the tea bags. Let cool slightly.
Combine the sugar with 2 cups of cold water. Add the mixture to the steeped tea.
Add the lime juice and cool to room temperature. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate until cold.
Slice additional limes, if using, into thin circles.
Serve the tea over ice with a slice or two of fresh lime.
Serves sixteen.