Name: Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups water; 8 black tea bags; 4 cups water; 1 tsp baking soda; 2 cups water; 4 cups strawberries, chopped; 1½ cups granulated sugar

There’s nothing quite like the refreshing burst of summer in a glass, and this Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe captures that magic perfectly. Imagine sipping on a cold, sweet tea kissed with the fresh, juicy flavor of ripe strawberries—it's like sunshine in your cup and so worth making any time you want a crowd-pleaser or just a sweet escape.

Two tall clear glasses with a dark red drink inside, filled with many small ice cubes that create a textured icy layer on top. Each glass is garnished with a half strawberry on the rim and a blue and white striped straw. The glasses sit on round woven coasters placed on a colorful floral cloth with red, yellow, pink, blue, and white flowers. Fresh whole strawberries are scattered around the glasses. The background shows a white basket filled with more strawberries and a blurred large yellow flower. The surface is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve been making this strawberry sweet tea for years, especially during summer get-togethers, and it never fails to impress. Its balance of sweet and fruity with real brewed tea flavor is downright addictive, plus it’s easy to whip up with ingredients you likely already have on hand.

Real fruit flavor: Unlike bottled versions, this recipe uses fresh strawberries simmered into a syrup, giving it authentic, juicy sweetness.
Perfectly balanced sweetness: The sugar level hits that nostalgic sweet spot but you can easily dial it up or down.
Simple to make: No complicated steps or fancy tools — just great ingredients and straightforward instructions.
Versatile and refreshing: It’s a fantastic drink for picnics, BBQs, or just sipping on your porch on a hot day.

A clear tall glass filled with two main layers: the bottom layer is a deep red strawberry liquid, and the top layer is a lighter pink mix with crushed ice covering the surface. A half-sliced bright red strawberry with its green top is placed on the rim of the glass alongside a white and blue striped paper straw. A woman's hand holds the glass from the side. The glass is set against a white marbled background with blurred strawberries and other glasses in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe shines because each ingredient brings its own role to the glass. Fresh strawberries give you vibrant flavor and natural sweetness, while the baking soda is a little secret trick to smooth out the tea’s tannins, making the whole drink taste mellow and rich without bitterness.

Flat lay of fresh ripe strawberries, loose black tea leaves spilling from opened tea bags, a small mound of granulated sugar, and a glass pitcher filled with dark brewed black tea, with a few whole strawberries scattered nearby, all beautifully arranged with vibrant colors and textures highlighted, placed on a white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Black Tea Bags: The robust base of this tea; I use classic black tea for its bold flavor that balances the sweetness.
Strawberries: Choose ripe and juicy berries for the best fruity punch—frozen could work but fresh is a game-changer.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the drink perfectly; you can adjust amount, but this quantity keeps it deliciously sweet without overdoing it.
Baking Soda: Adds a smoothness to the tea by reducing bitterness—trust me, it’s a game-changing small addition.
Water: Divided so you can brew tea and simmer strawberries separately, ensuring the best extraction of flavors.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how versatile this recipe is—once you get the base down, you can tweak it just how you like it. I usually cut back the sugar a little when I want a lighter sip and sometimes add a splash of lemon juice for a zesty twist that really lifts the flavors.

Less sweet: I’ve halved the sugar before for a more fruit-forward tea and still got rave reviews from my guests!
Lemon boost: Adding fresh lemon juice right before serving brightens the drink wonderfully—it feels extra refreshing on hot days.
Herbal infusions: If you want a fun twist, try adding a few fresh mint leaves or a sprig of rosemary while steeping tea for an herbal note.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe

Step 1: Brew the Tea

Start by boiling 2 cups of water in a medium saucepan. Once it’s bubbling hot, remove it from heat and toss in the tea bags. Let them steep for exactly 5 minutes—you want deep, strong flavor, but be careful: longer steeping can get bitter. To get the most out of the bags, gently squeeze them with tongs before pulling them out.

Step 2: Mix Tea with Water and Baking Soda

Pour your brewed tea into a large pitcher, then add 4 more cups of cold water and the baking soda. The baking soda helps neutralize tannins, giving the tea a smooth, mellow taste. Stir gently to combine and set aside while you prepare the strawberry syrup.

Step 3: Make the Strawberry Syrup

In the same saucepan, add the remaining 2 cups of water, chopped strawberries, and the sugar. Bring that to a low simmer—don’t let it boil aggressively—and keep it there for 20 minutes. This slow simmer draws out all those juicy strawberry flavors and helps the sugar dissolve completely creating a luscious syrup.

Step 4: Strain and Combine

Once the syrup has cooled just a bit, strain it through a fine mesh sieve to catch all the berry bits. Press those berries gently to get all the juice out—you want to keep that strawberry essence. Pour the syrup into your pitcher with the tea and stir well to combine everything perfectly.

Step 5: Serve Over Ice

This is the big moment: pour your strawberry sweet tea over glasses filled with ice—remember, I always add ice to individual glasses, never the pitcher, so the tea stays rich and not watered down. Sit back and enjoy that first sip of fruity, refreshing perfection!

Top Tip

From all my years making this Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe, I’ve learned a few tricks that make it turn out amazing every time—little things that even seasoned cooks sometimes overlook but really make a difference.

Use cold water for dilution: After brewing your tea, always add cold water to the pitcher before stirring in your syrup. This helps keep the tea refreshing and crisp instead of cloudy.
Don’t skip the baking soda: It's a simple ingredient but it smooths out bitterness from black tea beautifully. I was skeptical at first but after adding it, it became a must-do step.
Steep carefully: I always set a timer for exactly 5 minutes because I’ve accidentally over-steeped before, and it gave me bitter tea that no amount of sugar could fix.
Ice in glasses, not pitcher: Avoid watering down the whole batch by adding ice just to the glasses right before serving. It keeps every sip rich and cool.

How to Serve Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe

strawberry sweet tea - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love a few thin strawberry slices floated on top of the glass, and sometimes a sprig of fresh mint to add a fresh aroma. If I’m serving family or guests, a thin lemon wheel on the rim adds a pop of color and a hint of citrus aroma that perks up the flavor.

Side Dishes

This strawberry sweet tea pairs beautifully with classic Southern dishes like fried chicken, but honestly, it’s equally great with light things like grilled chicken salads or even sweet desserts like pound cake or berry cobbler. It’s so refreshing it can complement lots of different meals.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I’ve served this drink in mason jars with paper straws and tied ribbons around the neck for a cute picnic vibe. Another fun way is layering the syrup and tea separately in glasses before stirring, to show off that gorgeous strawberry color transition before drinking!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep my leftover strawberry sweet tea covered tightly in the fridge. It stays fresh and tasty up to a week, perfect for making ahead of a party or just having cool refreshment ready whenever you want it. Give it a good stir before serving since some settling might happen.

Freezing

I don’t recommend freezing this tea as the strawberry syrup texture changes when frozen and thawed, sometimes becoming a little grainy, which isn’t as enjoyable. It’s best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated.

Reheating

This isn’t a recipe you’d typically reheat, but if you prefer it warm on a cooler day, gently warm it on the stove over low heat without boiling to keep the flavor intact. I find it tastes best chilled though.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen strawberries for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen strawberries if fresh ones aren’t in season, but for the brightest and freshest flavor, ripe fresh strawberries are recommended. Frozen berries might make the syrup a bit more watery.

Why do you add baking soda to tea?

Baking soda reduces the acidity and bitterness caused by tannins in black tea, resulting in a smoother, mellower taste that’s easier to drink especially when combined with sweet flavors like strawberry syrup.

How long can I store strawberry sweet tea?

Stored in the refrigerator with a tight cover, strawberry sweet tea stays fresh and enjoyable for up to 1 week. Always stir it well before pouring to redistribute any settled syrup.

Can I make this tea less sweet?

Absolutely! You can reduce the sugar by half or to your taste. A lighter sweetness lets the natural strawberry flavor shine through more, making the tea taste more fruit-forward and refreshing.

Final Thoughts

This Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe holds a special spot in my heart as a simple, delicious way to celebrate summer’s best flavors. It’s easy enough to make any day, but special enough to serve when friends and family come together. I’m confident you’ll enjoy every sip just as much as I do—so grab those fresh strawberries and start brewing your own jar of sweet summer magic.