Wondering how much sugar to use in a gallon of sweet iced tea? Here’s the perfect ratio for classic Southern sweet tea. This easy sweet iced tea recipe creates a smooth, refreshing flavor every time. Whether you like it lightly sweet or extra sweet, we’ll show you exactly how much sugar to use—plus how to make it with Luzianne tea bags for authentic Southern taste.
How Much Sugar for a Gallon of Sweet Tea?
- Lightly Sweet: ½ cup sugar per gallon
- Perfectly Sweet (Our Favorite): 1 cup sugar per gallon
- Extra Sweet: 1 ½ cups sugar per gallon
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Iced tea always reminds me of my grandmother; she always had a jug of tea in the fridge. Always. She drank unsweetened tea, and as a kid, I could always count on a drink out of her large glass that I had to hold with both hands.
Now as an adult we put sugar in ours to make this amazing sweet tea. It is so tasty and refreshing served over a nice tall glass of ice, perfect on a hot summer day!
Why Luzianne Tea Bags Make the Best Sweet Iced Tea
If you’re making a traditional Luzianne sweet tea recipe, the tea you choose matters. Luzianne tea bags are specifically blended for iced tea, using orange pekoe and pekoe cut black tea to create a smooth, never-bitter flavor that’s perfect for sweet tea.
Ingredient Notes
To make the best Southern sweet iced tea recipe, you only need a few simple ingredients.
Tea: Family size tea bags, we like Luzianne tea bags for iced tea.
Water: Spring or filtered water works best, but tap water is fine too.
Sugar: Add sugar while the tea is warm so it dissolves completely.
Garnish: Lemon slices, wedges, or fresh mint add extra flavor.
How to Make Southern Sweet Iced Tea (1-Gallon Recipe)
- Bring eight cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from heat.
- Add tea bags and steep for 5 minutes. Do not over-steep or the tea will become bitter.
- Stir in 1 cup of sugar while the tea is still warm until fully dissolved.
- Pour the tea into a gallon pitcher and add cool water to fill.
We don’t have a glass pitcher large enough to hold the entire gallon of tea so often times we just keep it in the plastic jug the gallon of water came in. It fits handily in the fridge so why not?
I just mix the steeped tea and water in a large plastic pitcher that has a spout and then carefully pour it into the gallon jug. My gallon sized pitcher is kinda cumbersome and not handy like the water jug.
You can also mix equal parts steeped tea and water and then pour that into whatever smaller containers you have if you don’t have anything big enough to hold a full gallon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tea can turn cloudy if it is mixed with cold water or ice while still too hot. Let the tea cool slightly before combining for clearer tea.
Some people add a pinch of baking soda to reduce bitterness, but over-steeping is usually the real cause. Using enough tea bags and not steeping too long works better.
Sweet tea is best enjoyed within 3–4 days when stored in the refrigerator.
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Southern Sweet Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 4 family size tea bags
- 1 gallon water 16 cups
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Bring eight cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Take it off the stove and let it stop boiling.
- Place tea bags in the hot water and let the tea steep for 5 minutes. Do not steep too long or it will give your tea a bitter taste. Remove tea bags.
- Mix sugar into the hot tea and stir until it dissolves. Pour tea and cool water into a gallon pitcher of jug.
About Mindy
Mindy has been cooking for over 30 years, starting as a young mother who learned how to create delicious meals on a budget. Today, she shares approachable recipes made with everyday ingredients that are easy, affordable, and family-friendly. Her goal is to show that great food doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive.