Description
Watermelon Sweet Tea is a refreshing Southern-style beverage perfect for cooling off during summer barbecues. Combining the sweet, juicy flavor of watermelon with classic brewed tea sweetened with sugar, this icy drink is both vibrant and revitalizing. This recipe originally comes from Ed Mitchell’s Barbeque and offers a refreshing twist to traditional sweet tea with natural sweetness from fresh watermelon puree.
Ingredients
Sweet Tea Base
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 quarts filtered water
- 6 tea bags Luzianne preferred
Watermelon Mixture
- 12 cups seeded watermelon chunks
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Garnish
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Make Simple Syrup and Brew Tea: In a large saucepan, combine the granulated sugar and filtered water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling until the sugar completely dissolves and the liquid becomes clear. Remove the pan from heat, add the tea bags to the sugar water, cover, and steep for 15 minutes to infuse the tea.
- Prepare Watermelon Puree: While the tea steeps, work in batches to puree the seeded watermelon chunks and fresh lime juice together in a blender or food processor until smooth.
- Strain Watermelon Puree: Strain the watermelon puree through a fine mesh sieve into a gallon-sized pitcher to remove pulp and seeds, creating a smooth juice.
- Combine Tea and Watermelon Juice: Remove the tea bags from the brewed tea and add the tea liquid to the pitcher with the watermelon juice. Stir the mixture well but do not add ice directly to the pitcher.
- Serve: Pour the watermelon sweet tea into glasses filled with ice. Garnish each serving with two fresh mint leaves, if desired, and serve immediately for a refreshing experience.
Notes
- Excerpted from Ed Mitchell’s Barbeque © 2023 by Ed Mitchell and Ryan Mitchell. Reproduced by permission of Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
- Ed and Ryan Mitchell recommend using Luzianne, a classic Southern tea brand available nationwide, including Walmart and Amazon. Earl Grey or other full-bodied teas can be substituted.
- To save time, prepare the simple syrup and brew the tea in advance. Let it cool completely and chill overnight in the refrigerator before combining with watermelon puree at serving time.
- Watermelon puree adds natural sweetness, reducing the needed added sugar while keeping the tea flavorful.
- Sweet tea is a Southern staple and an affordable alternative to soda, perfect for gatherings and barbecues.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
