How to Make Sweet Tea Concentrate

 I grew up drinking sun tea like it was going out of style. I could never get enough of it! My mom always made it using Lipton tea bags in one of those big gallon containers with the brightly colored design on the outside. She would fill it up, set it in the sun, and then top it off with sugar. 

In later years, things like Crystal Light and Snapple came out, and these started to replace the amount of sweet tea that we drank. Now, as a grown woman with a family of my own, I pay extra special attention to the ingredients that we are consuming. We have upgraded from bagged tea to our bold, loose leaf Southern Sweet Tea, including making our own sun tea and enjoying herbal fruity teas instead of Snapple.

But sometimes  — okay, almost all the time — we are in a hurry, especially when summer is here and we are spending time in the garden and playing in the sunshine. When I forget to put the tea out in the sun to make sweet tea, it can be super handy to have a homemade black tea or herbal tea concentrate ready to go. 

Tea concentrate is a lifesaver when you have last-minute needs or company shows up unannounced! Today, we will be teaching you how to make your own. Our loose-leaf black tea concentrate is my go-to recipe for making a concentrate. With this sweet tea concentrate recipe under your belt, it is easy to have sweet tea anytime you want — and ready in an instant too.

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What is Sweet Tea?

Sweet tea is a refreshing beverage that gets its distinctly sweet flavor from the way it is brewed. You can make sweet tea with regular white sugar or another type of sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or agave. 

Sweetened tea is usually served cold over ice. It is a super popular part of Southern hospitality in the United States. Rooted in decades of tradition, it’s a staple item that is often served at parties, summer picnics, and other family gatherings. 

With how popular and delicious sweet tea is, it tends to be pretty easy to find in most restaurants, markets, and stores. In our eyes, though, there is nothing better than a cold glass of sweet tea made from your own concentrate.

What kind of tea can be used to make sweet tea?

Here on the farm, we love making our sweet tea with Ceylon black tea, but you can use any tea you like. If you love the bold flavor of black tea in general, we recommend giving Oolong or Darjeeling a try too. 

If black tea isn’t quite your jam, white tea, green tea, and herbal tea are also great choices. Our favorite herbal teas for sweet tea are our Farmhouse High Desert Hibiscus, Pina Colada Sweet Tea, Tropical Tulsi Sweet Tea, and Harvest Berry.

Once you’ve made your choice, we recommend steeping it in a French press. Our stainless steel French press makes it easy to brew up a large amount of tea in just a few minutes. The steps are simple: 

• Add your loose-leaf tea to the French press, then pour hot water over the leaves. 
• Place the lid over the top, but do not press the plunger down yet. Let the tea leaves steep for a few minutes (time will vary based on the type of tea you are using).
• Slowly press the plunger down to separate the leaves and liquid.

What is Tea Concentrate?

Concentrated tea is a much stronger version of your typical brewed tea. It is made by using a higher ratio of tea to water than usual. For example, instead of using 1 teaspoon of loose-leaf tea, we might use 10 teaspoons instead. 

To make a concentrate, you will also steep the tea a little longer than you would for regular tea in order to get the best flavor. Because concentrated tea has such an intense flavor on its own, it is meant to be diluted with water before serving. You can dilute it with more or less water depending on how strong you want your tea to be.

Iced Tea vs. Sweet Tea: What’s the Difference?

Since sweet tea is usually served over ice, you might be wondering what the difference is between iced and sweet tea. Here is the simplest way to put it: Iced tea can be served sweetened or unsweetened, but sweet tea is a type of iced tea that will always be sweet, no matter what. 

With sweet tea, the sugar is added while the tea is still hot, so it dissolves before the tea starts to cool. This means the sweet flavor is infused evenly throughout the tea concentrate.

When you make a large batch of iced tea, you have more control over how sweet you want it to be. You can enjoy it plain or mix in your desired amount of sweetener before serving. Both iced tea and sweet tea are delicious, so the one that you call your favorite will really depend on your personal preference and how much of a sweet tooth you have.

How to Make Tea Concentrate

Making your own concentrate is easy as can be. This recipe is made with just a few simple ingredients and features our incredible Farmhouse Teas Southern Sweet Tea loose-leaf tea. Made with Ceylon black tea, this concentrate recipe has a deep, rich, malty flavor and notes of caramel and honey.

Tea Concentrate Frequently Asked Questions

What types of tea are best for making concentrate?

You can use any type of tea to make concentrate. Herbal tea concentrate and black tea concentrate are some of our favorites, but the best tea for you will depend on your flavor preference.

Can tea concentrate be used in cooking or baking?

Yes, you can use tea to add a little bit of subtle flavor or color to your recipes. Some of the most popular ways to incorporate tea into recipes include mixing concentrate into frosting, using tea to make syrup or tea lattes, or making dressings or marinades with it.

Is concentrated tea healthier than regular tea?

No, concentrate is not necessarily more or less healthy than regular tea. In general, you can expect your concentrate to have similar benefits to a regular cup of the same tea. However, keep in mind that depending on the type of tea you use and how you prepare it, your concentrate might have a high amount of caffeine or sugar in it. Homemade let's you choose how much of each to put in!

Front Porches and Sweet Tea

Whether you prefer black tea concentrate or an herbal tea concentrate, it is a convenient concoction to have in your refrigerator. It means that you can have a cool and refreshing glass of iced tea anytime, even on the busiest of days. There is nothing like sitting on the front porch with friends sipping homemade sweet tea in the sunshine, watching your kiddos and chickens in the front yard. Before you brew your next batch of concentrate, be sure to check out our FREE Cooking with Tea Ebook for some inspiration on how you can take your tea to the next level!

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