Name: Blackberry Sweet Iced Tea
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 tea bags; 14 1/2 cups water (divided); 1/8 teaspoon baking soda; 2 cups fresh blackberries (plus more for garnish if desired); 1 1/2 cups sugar

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Blackberry Sweet Iced Tea is a refreshing beverage perfect any time of the year.

Drinking tea reminds me of my Nana. She would always keep a bottle of it in the fridge and a large glass next to her. She drank her tea without sugar, and I like it that way too. But this Blackberry Sweet Iced Tea definitely takes Nana’s tea to the next level.

How to make Blackberry Sweet Iced Tea:

First you boil 4 cups of water. When it comes to a rolling boil you add 8 regular one cup size tea bags, dunking occasionally.

Steep for about 10 minutes. Depending on how strong you like your tea, you could steep for as little as 5 minutes or as long as 15 minutes. Remove tea bags and discard them. Stir 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda into the tea.

Mix 2 cups fresh blackberries with 1 1/2 cups sugar, smashing the berries with a wooden spoon. When it is all mixed together then add 1 cup warm water.

Pour through a fine mesh strainer, use the wooden spoon to move the berries around as necessary so the liquid goes through the strainer.

Mix with tea mixture, pour into a large pitcher. Add 9 1/12 cups cold water, stir to combine. Refrigerate until cold. Or better yet, pour over ice and enjoy.

Makes 1 gallon.

I make mine in a huge pitcher (not the one in these pictures, it’s too small) but you could use a clean water or milk jug.

You can skip running it through a mesh strainer if you are okay with the seeds. I prefer mine to be free of seeds and that is why I strain it.

Wondering what the baking soda is all about? According to many sources, Taste Of Home being one of them, it helps eliminate bitterness for a smooth tasting tea. Such an easy trick to ensure that you have great tasting tea that isn’t bitter.