HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP AND CLASSIC SWEET TEA
There is nothing more Southern than classic sweet tea and you can make it a lot of different ways but most classic sweet tea is made with simple syrup. A lot of alcoholic beverages are made with simple syrup, too. You can make this syrup up and store it in the refrigerator for up to a month to use in your favorite drinks.
Simple Syrup:
2 cups white granulated sugar
2 cups water
Combine and heat on medium on stove until sugar is dissolved. Store in refrigerator. Makes about 3 cups. You can double this or make as much as you like.
Classic Sweet Tea:
2 family sized tea bags
7 cups water, divided
1 cup simple syrup (you can add more or less to suit your taste)
Ice
Bring 4 cups water to boil on stove. Remove and pour over 2 family sized tea bags. Let steep for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove tea bags and add 3 more cups water and 1 cup simple syrup. Pour over ice and enjoy classic sweet tea. Makes 8 cups
Kentucky Mint Julep:
Mint leaves
Simple Syrup
Kentucky bourbon
Ice
Place 3 or 4 mint leave in bottom of glass and add an ounce of simple syrup. Use a wooden spoon handle to crush or mash the leaves into the syrup. Fill glass with crushed ice and add 2 ounces of Kentucky bourbon. Can add a little water if you want to cut it some. Garnish with mint and Enjoy! Makes 1 mint julep.
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Another option would be xylitol or erythritol. Neither have the after taste of stevia. Neither impact glucose or insulin. You use them in the same ratio as sugar (so 1 cup of sugar would be substituted for one cup of one of these). I prefer Erythritol because it doesn’t have the GI upset some people experience with Xylitol. Both are “natural”….unlike aspartame/Splenda. I was buying my erythritol on-line as the brand Swerve (comes in granulated and powdered) ; but now my local HEB grocery store carries Swerve 🙂 Hooray.
Both spouse & I are type 2 diabetic. I use stevia and really can’t tell difference. But, can’t get him to use a substitute and he loves Sweet Tea. Can the Stevia be used instead without much noticeable taste difference? Will try to get it pass him today.
Hi Michele, I use stevia myself sometimes. It may be just me but I think I can tell a difference in stevia and sugar but if he loves the sweet tea, he should definitely try it with stevia. I make the 8 cups and use 8 packages of stevia when I make it with it instead of sugar. You might try using a little more than 1 package per cup or glass if you are going to fool him. lol. This brought back memories for me as my mother gave my father 2% milk for years and he thought he was drinking whole milk. She switched the caps from the blue cap that is on the 2% to a red cap like the one on the whole milk. He never knew the difference. Have a wonderful new week ahead and thank you for being a part of our community.
How long does the simple syrup stay good in the refrigerator?
I have kept it up to a week but it never lasts any longer than that at my house, Tina.
If you don’t like sweet tea can I just omit the syrup?
Yes you can do that, Elsie.