Sweet, sweet tea

This recipe has no butter. It is also more of a summer recipe in most people's minds. Whatevs. =)

Three summers ago I went to the south. The South, that is. Mississippi and Louisiana (and if you don't pronounce those with a southern drawl in your head from hear on out, you should just stop reading this blog. Seriously.) Try it now... "Loooz-y-ana" and "missah-sippay".

But I digress. I went to the south. A bombshell had recently gone off in my life, and my mom wanted to whisk me away. Anywhere. Since she was already going down toward that kudzu-strangled region, I joined her. I brought several things back with me from my experience in the south: a broadened understanding of the confederate flag, a desire to pronounce Louisiana correctly (hey, I hate when people mispronounce Oregon, so it is the least I can do. Seriously people. Ory-gun. Accept it already). I also brought back an affinity for sweet tea. Grits can stay in the south. But my oh my did they get sweet tea right.

Upon returning home, I searched several recipes for a sweet tea recipe I would like. I finally found this one, but I sadly cannot attribute it. I don't remember whose it was. Some little site in cyber space. Not a big recipe site. For starters on this recipe, go to the store and buy orange pekoe and cut black tea. This sounds fancy but really isn't. I bought my box of 100 tea bags for $1.05 at my local winco. With the number of bags needed for the tea, and the amount of sugar, I calculated it out that each gallon I make costs me around 8 cents. I would say that is better than the super market jugs. This one also doesn't have High Fructose Corn Syrup (which I avoid. My reasons are a rant for another time). Try to get the tea bags tagless if you can find them. Otherwise you'll have to clip them all off.


Louisiana Sweet Tea

1. Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a pot with a lid. Upon boiling, turn off the heat, add a pinch of baking soda (this will prevent bitterness) and toss in 3 tea bags.
2. Cover the pot, set it on a back burner, and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes. I like doing 14, but everyone likes a different strength of tea.
3. When the time is up, squeeze out the tea bags over the pot and throw them away.
4. Get a one gallon container. An old milk jug or juice container works, but I would recommend buying glass. No taste transfers. This will also keep your tea fresh for longer.
5. Put a couple cups of warm water in the bottom of the jug. Add anywhere from 1/4 cup (for iced tea) to 1 cup (for very sweet tea) of sugar. Stir to dissolve.
6. Set the jug on some kitchen towels. You will miss a bit when you pour. Well, I always do anyway. Pour the tea concentrate from the stove into the jug.
7. Add cold water until the jug is full. Stir, close, and put in the fridge. Let cool completely before drinking.
8. Enjoy!