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 something magical about sipping a refreshing glass of homemade iced tea on a warm day, and this Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe nails that perfectly sweet and fruity balance. It’s like summer captured in a glass—bright, sweet, and utterly refreshing.

Two tall clear glasses filled with dark red liquid have crushed ice piled on top, creating a light pink layer above. Each glass is garnished with a fresh red strawberry sliced and placed on the rim, with a blue and white striped paper straw inserted in one of the glasses. The glasses sit on round woven coasters placed on a colorful floral cloth with bright red, yellow, blue, pink, and green patterns. Around the glasses, fresh red strawberries with green tops lay scattered. In the background, a white container filled with more strawberries and a large yellow flower can be seen. 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

This Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe is not just another iced tea—it’s a blend of bold black tea, naturally sweet strawberries, and just the right amount of sugar that comes together to create a drink that’s both nostalgic and fresh. I’ve made it for gatherings and quiet afternoons, and it never disappoints.

Perfect balance of flavors: The strawberries add a natural fruity sweetness that pairs beautifully with the robust black tea.
Simplicity with a twist: A few simple ingredients combine for a drink that feels special without complicated steps.
Customizable sweetness: Whether you like it barely sweet or super sweet, this recipe easily adapts to your taste buds.
Great for entertaining: It’s a crowd-pleaser that looks beautiful served over ice with a garnish of fresh strawberries or lemon.

A clear tall glass filled with bright red strawberry drink layered with many small ice cubes on top, a half red strawberry piece garnishes the rim, and a white straw with blue stripes is placed inside. The drink is held by a woman's hand showing light skin, with a slightly blurred white marbled surface and strawberries in soft focus background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe plays a key role in achieving that perfect flavor you’ll want again and again. Here’s why they’re essential and a few tips when you’re shopping.

Flat lay of fresh ripe strawberries, loose black tea leaves spilling gently, a small heap of granulated sugar crystals sparkling, a delicate mound of baking soda powder, and clear water droplets arranged in small puddles to suggest freshness, all beautifully spread out with vibrant red, deep brown, and white tones contrasting on a pristine white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Black tea bags: The tea gives the base a rich, slightly tannic flavor that balances the sweetness of the strawberries and sugar. Go for a good quality black tea for the best depth of flavor.
Water: Using fresh, cold water is a must—warm or room temperature water can release unwanted tannins that make tea cloudy or bitter.
Baking soda: This might surprise you! A pinch helps soften the tea and cut any harshness, giving a smoother taste.
Strawberries: Ripe, juicy strawberries are key—they bring vibrant color and natural sweetness. When in season, local strawberries will elevate this recipe!
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the tea just right. You can always adjust this depending on how sweet you like your tea, but it’s the classic addition for that Southern sweet tea vibe.

📝

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

One of the best things about this Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. I often tweak the sweetness level or toss in a splash of fresh lemon juice for a bit of zing—because who doesn't love a little zing?

Variation: Sometimes I like to add a handful of fresh mint leaves while the tea cools for a refreshing herbal layer.
Dietary tweak: To cut back on sugar, I halve the amount and let the ripe strawberries shine more through the tea.
Seasonal swap: If you can’t find strawberries, raspberry or peach syrup works just as beautifully for a different fruity twist.

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

Step 1: Brew the Perfect Tea Base

Start by bringing 2 cups of fresh cold water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Once it’s boiling, remove it from the heat and add your black tea bags. Let them steep for about 5 minutes to extract all that rich flavor without bitterness—think of it as letting your tea take a little nap to get perfectly relaxed. Then, carefully remove the bags, squeezing them gently with tongs to wring out every drop of flavor.

Step 2: Combine and Balance

Pour the brewed tea into a large pitcher, and add 4 more cups of cold water and the baking soda. The baking soda works wonders here, smoothing out any rough edges in the tea's flavor. Give it a gentle stir and set this aside for now.

Step 3: Simmer Your Strawberry Syrup

Using that same saucepan, pour in the remaining 2 cups of water along with your chopped strawberries and granulated sugar. Bring it all to a low simmer and let it bubble gently for about 20 minutes. This step creates a luscious strawberry syrup packed with flavor—that’s the secret to making your tea taste like summer.

Step 4: Strain and Combine

After simmering, remove the saucepan from the heat and give the syrup some time to cool. Then strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a small pitcher or cup, pressing the strawberries to extract all their juicy goodness. Pour this fragrant syrup into your tea pitcher and stir everything together.

Step 5: Serve It Up

Fill glasses with ice cubes (I never put ice directly into the pitcher—that just waters down the tea before serving!). Pour your homemade strawberry sweet tea over the ice and serve immediately. Watch your friends’ faces light up with that first refreshing sip.

Top Tip

Having made berry-infused teas many times, I’ve learned a few things that make all the difference in flavor and clarity. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and get bubbly, beautifully colored, perfectly balanced strawberry sweet tea every time.

Cold Water Start: Always start with cold water when boiling your tea to prevent tannins from clouding the tea and causing bitterness.
Don’t Over-Steep: Five minutes is your sweet spot—any longer and the tea becomes bitter. It's about balancing flavor intensity without harshness.
Strain Thoroughly: Press the strawberries well when straining to get every drop of flavor into your tea, but avoid leaving pulp in the drink for a smooth sip.
Ice in the Glass: Add ice cubes to individual glasses and not the pitcher to keep your tea from watering down prematurely.

How to Serve Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe

Strawberry Sweet Tea - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping this sweet tea with fresh strawberry slices and a sprig of mint—it adds color and a subtle aroma that invites you in. Sometimes a wedge of lemon brings a lovely contrasting brightness. If I’m serving it at a party, I often float a few edible flowers on top for a beautiful touch that feels so fancy but is super simple.

Side Dishes

This tea goes perfectly with classic Southern bites like fried chicken, coleslaw, or even a picnic spread of sandwiches and fresh fruit. For something lighter, I’ve paired it with a crisp spinach salad or grilled chicken skewers—the tea’s sweetness is a great palate cleanser.

Creative Ways to Present

Once, for a summer brunch, I chilled the tea in mason jars with little strawberry and lemon slices inside, then tied colorful ribbons around the jars. It made the table look festive and let guests enjoy their drinks on the go. You could also freeze some tea into ice cubes with bits of strawberry for an extra burst of flavor as they melt.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store any leftover strawberry sweet tea in a sealed pitcher or container in the refrigerator. It stays fresh and flavorful for up to a week, though, honestly, it rarely lasts that long in my house! Just give it a good stir before pouring it to recombine any settled syrup.

Freezing

Freezing this tea isn’t my go-to because it can dull the fresh strawberry flavor, but I’ve frozen small portions in ice cube trays to add to plain iced tea in the summer. The frozen strawberry tea cubes melt slowly, adding sweetness and color without watering down your drink.

Reheating

This is best enjoyed cold, but if you want to enjoy it warm, gently reheat on the stovetop over low heat—don’t boil. Reheating carefully helps keep a fresh, not bitter, tea flavor. Adding a little hot water can lighten it up if it tastes too concentrated after cooling down.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use frozen strawberries for this tea?

Frozen strawberries can work in a pinch, but fresh, ripe strawberries will give you the best flavor and color in your strawberry sweet tea.

How long will this tea keep in the fridge?

When stored in an airtight container, your strawberry sweet tea will stay fresh and tasty for up to one week in the refrigerator.

Is baking soda really necessary in the recipe?

Baking soda helps reduce bitterness and smooth out the tea’s flavor. If you skip it, your tea might taste a little harsher, but it’s not absolutely required if you’d rather leave it out.

Can I reduce the sugar for a less sweet tea?

Absolutely! This recipe is traditionally sweet, but feel free to reduce the sugar by half or more to let the strawberry flavor shine if you prefer a lighter sweetness.

Final Thoughts

I’m honestly pretty picky when it comes to iced tea, but this Strawberry Sweet Tea Recipe always wins me over. It reminds me of those long summer afternoons with friends and family, refreshing and delicious in the best way. I hope you’ll give it a try and make it your own—it’s one of those recipes that’s simple to prepare but makes you feel like you’ve whipped up something truly special.