Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe

There's nothing quite as refreshing as cold tea on a hot day. From the very first sip, it seems to cool down your whole body, instantly helping you sit back, relax, and enjoy the sunshine. And for many, adding a dash of sweetness to this beverage is a match made in heaven. With this in mind, recipe developer Susan Olayinka has created a sweet tea that uses strawberries to give you a sweet yet tangy drink experience.

"Green tea is very mild and complements the sweet strawberries and sugar," Olayinka explains. And best of all, this perfect summer beverage is easy to whip up anytime you want. In just a few minutes, you'll have enough of this sweet tea to serve eight people. 

And as a bonus, Olayinka will tell you how to turn your tea into the perfect summertime snack for the young (and the young at heart) in your family.

To make enough of your strawberry sweet tea for eight servings, you'll need eight cups of water, one cup of sugar, three green tea bags, and 10 and a half ounces of strawberries. And if you want to swap out the sugar for a lower-calorie sweetener, Olayinka says you can definitely do so without taking anything away from this recipe.

Just remember, there are many types of sweeteners on the market ranging from the all-natural to the artificial, so you'll want to do your homework and pick the one that's best for your health as well as your taste buds. 

To begin your recipe, place the eight cups of water, one cup of sugar, and three green tea bags into a pot and bring it up to medium-high heat for two minutes. While Olayinka chose green tea for her spin on sweet tea because of its taste, she also points out that green tea is packed with antioxidants, which are good for your immune system.

And while, yes, matcha is a kind of green tea, note that it's not the kind of tea you should be using here. Make sure you pick up the right variety.

While your tea is brewing, it's time to prepare the sweet stars of this beverage. Using a chopping board, first slice off the stems of the strawberries, then slice all the strawberries into halves and set them aside. And if you're wondering how to pick strawberries when they're at the peak of freshness, Olayinka says look for the ones that are bright red.

"Also make sure there are no dull bits," she explains, adding, "that's when you know that they're overripe." She also recommends not choosing small strawberries and instead picking "good-sized" ones (like the berries pictured in this recipe).

After two minutes, your tea should be sufficiently brewed without being too strong, so take the teabags out of the pot. Next, place the chopped strawberries into the pot and cook on low-medium heat for five minutes.

Although it might be tempting to take a shortcut here, Olayinka cautions that cooking the strawberries for less than five minutes could weaken their tangy, sweet flavor in your tea. Remember, what makes this tea special is that burst of strawberry goodness combined perfectly with the sugar (or sweetener if you prefer) and the green tea.

After five minutes, sieve the strawberries out of the pot, and pour the remaining liquid into a pitcher. To properly chill your tea, you'll want to either put the pitcher into the fridge for two hours or into the freezer for half an hour. 

And if you have little kids in your life, Olayinka has a tip for turning this beverage into a sweet, frozen treat. Simply pour the liquid into popsicle molds and freeze overnight. You can also use an ice cube tray to make flavorful ice cubes that will add a little kick to your water. 

After chilling your tea in the fridge or freezer, fill your serving glasses with ice, and pour in the strawberry sweet tea. And don't just put away any leftover strawberries because they can make a perfect garnish and add a little more tangy flavor to your drink. 

You also may want to add a sprig of mint for that extra touch that your guests are sure to notice.