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mcdonalds sweet tea

McDonald's Sweet Tea Recipe

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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups water (for brewing)
  • 3 Lipton black tea bags
  • 3/4 cup granulated white sugar
  • Pinch of baking soda
  • 4 cups cold water
  • Ice, for serving

Method
 

  1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, pour into a heatproof pitcher, add the 3 tea bags and a pinch of baking soda, and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the bags without squeezing.
  2. Stir in the 3/4 cup granulated white sugar while the tea is still hot, stirring for about 1 minute until fully dissolved and the liquid is clear.
  3. Add the 4 cups cold water, stir to combine, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until fully cold.
  4. Fill a tall glass with ice, pour the chilled sweet tea over it, and serve with a lemon wedge if you like.

Notes

This recipe is best made the night before if you're planning ahead — the flavor smooths out nicely after a few hours in the fridge. If your tea tastes bitter after brewing, you likely steeped it too long; aim for no more than 5 minutes next time. The baking soda amount is small but it does real work, so don't leave it out.