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.
Click here to check out other tips from our site: Tips From The Southern Lady Cooks.
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.
The simple syrup is only sugar and water so I don’t know why
it wouldnt last more then a week in the refrigerator. Just wondering if anyone else has kept it in the refrigerator longer then a week.
If you don’t like sweet tea can I just omit the syrup?
Yes you can do that, Elsie.