Strawberry Sweet Tea {Easy Recipe}

Beautiful, delicious, and refreshing, this strawberry sweet tea is just the thing for a summer afternoon. A simple, homemade strawberry syrup that infuses each glass with the pure taste of freshly picked berries.

While it’s one of our favorite ways to use fresh strawberries, it’s just as good with frozen ones, so you can make it any time of year.

Prep Time:20

Chilling time:2

Total Time:2 20

Equipment

Pitcher
strainer

Ingredients

Strawberry Syrup

3 cups strawberries frozen is fine
1½ cups granulated sugar
1 cup water

Tea

3 family-sized tea bags Luzianne brand recommended
6 cups hot water
6 cups cold water

Garnish (All Optional)

lemon wedges
fresh mint
additional strawberries

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Instructions

Make the syrup

Combine the syrup ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook until the strawberries become softened and bright red, about 15 minutes. Mash well with a potato masher or large fork.
Strain the syrup into a medium bowl. Set aside to cool while you make the tea.

Make the tea

Place the tea bags in a heat-proof pitcher.
Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Pour over the tea bags and allow to steep 3 minutes, then remove and discard.
Pour 6 cups of cold water into the pitcher of tea. Add the strawberry syrup and mix thoroughly.
Place the pitcher in the fridge to chill 4 hours, or until very cold. Serve over ice with fresh lemon slices, sliced berries, and mint leaves.

Notes

You can substitute Truvia cane sugar blend (you’ll need half as much) to cut down significantly on the sugar in this recipe.

If you’re in a hurry to serve, place the pitcher of tea in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Just be sure to check on it so it doesn’t freeze!

Try serving in mason jars for a touch of rustic charm. Garnish each glass with a lemon wedge, a fresh strawberry on a cocktail stick, and a sprig of mint for an extra special touch.

Nutrition

Servings: glasses

Calories: 129kcal

Author: Katie

My family insists on this tea at every backyard barbecue, and honestly, it’s the one request I’ll never tire of. It’s the perfect blend of sweet, tart, and absolutely refreshing. I’m thrilled to share it with you, and I’m pretty sure it’ll become a favorite in your home, too.

overhead view of strawberry sweet tea with pink cloth

Sometimes I cut down on the sugar, but not always. Try it and see what you like best.

Sweet Tea Tips

Brewing. Don’t overbrew your tea. Too long in hot water, and it can turn bitter, clashing with the sweetness of your syrup. Stick to the steeping time and use a timer to ensure consistency.
Sweetness Balance. The key to the perfect sweet tea is balance. If your strawberries aren’t quite sweet enough, you might need a bit more sugar—or if they’re super ripe, you might want less.

Key Ingredients and Tools

They’re easy to find and fun to choose, especially when you know exactly what to look for.

Strawberries. Look for these in the produce section, and for the sweetest tea, select berries that are bright red and fragrant.
Tea Bags. Any grocery store will carry them, usually in the coffee and tea aisle. Opt for high-quality tea bags for the best flavor.
Granulated Sugar. A pantry staple found in the baking aisle; it sweetens the syrup to perfection. For a less refined option, try substituting with equal parts honey.

Ingredients for strawberry sweet tea neatly laid out on a rustic white wooden surface, including pitchers of water, a bowl of strawberries, sugar, tea bags, and fresh mint leaves.

Here are the essential tools you’ll need:

Pitcher. A large pitcher is crucial for combining and serving your sweet tea; a glass one will showcase the beautiful color of the drink.
Saucepan. Necessary for cooking down the strawberries and sugar into a syrup that will flavor your tea.
Strainer. A fine-mesh strainer will remove the strawberry pulp from your syrup, leaving you with a smooth liquid to sweeten your tea.
Wooden Spoon. Ideal for stirring the strawberries while making the syrup and for mixing the tea and syrup together in the pitcher.
Potato Masher. While optional, using a potato masher to press the strawberries will help extract maximum flavor for your syrup.

Serving Suggestions

For a light summer meal, serve with grilled chicken skewers, cucumber sandwiches, spinach and strawberry salad, and sourdough lemon muffins.

Troubleshooting and Help

Are frozen strawberries really just as good as fresh for the syrup?

Absolutely! Frozen strawberries work just as well, especially since you’ll be cooking them down. They’re often picked and frozen at peak ripeness, so you might even get more flavor.

How long does the tea need to chill before serving?

Ideally, you’d give it about 4 hours in the fridge to get nice and cold. But if you’re short on time, pour it over lots of ice to chill it faster.

Is there a quick way to cool the tea if I’m in a rush?

Yes, to cool it down quickly, fill a few glasses with ice and pour the tea back and forth between them. This will chill the tea and keep it from getting watered down.

This is an easy recipe!

Storing Leftovers

Refrigerated

For the best taste, keep the tea refrigerated in a sealed pitcher or bottle. It’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days—perfect for sipping throughout the week.

Freezing

If you’ve made a large batch and can’t finish it within that time, you can freeze the tea. Just pour it into a freezer-safe container, leaving a little room at the top as it will expand when frozen. When you’re ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, give it a good stir, and it’s ready to serve.

Storing Syrup

Remember, the strawberry syrup can also be frozen separately in an ice cube tray for quick and easy flavor boosts to drinks or desserts.

With a few tweaks to the recipe, you can make strawberry syrup in bulk and can it.

More Homemade Tea and Lemonade

There’s something special about a homemade drink in the summertime.

This recipe is all about embracing the simple joy of making something refreshing and delightful, perfect for any day that could use a little sweetening. Grab your pitcher and strawberries, and let the simple act of making sweet tea be a reminder to slow down and savor the small moments

Strawberry Sweet Tea