Watermelon Sweet Tea
Watermelon Sweet Tea – Cool off at your next barbecue with an icy glass of watermelon sweet tea! This recipe is a refreshing way to enjoy summer and is from Ed Mitchell's Barbeque by Ed and Ryan Mitchell.
Servings 4 people
Calories 331kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 quarts filtered water
- 6 tea bags Luzianne preferred
- 12 cups seeded watermelon chunks
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- Fresh mint leaves optional
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil until the sugar has completely dissolved and the liquid is clear. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags to the sugar water, cover, and steep for 15 minutes.
- Working in batches, puree the watermelon chunks and lime juice in a blender or food processor. Strain and transfer to a gallon-sized pitcher. Remove the tea bags and add the tea to the pitcher. Do not add ice. Stir and pour into ice-filled glasses. Garnish each glass with 2 fresh mint leaves, if desired, and serve.
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.
Notes from Liren
Ed and Ryan Mitchell recommend using Luzianne, a classic choice for Southern sweet teas. It is available at many stores nationwide, such as Walmart. You can also purchase Luzianne on Amazon (affiliate link). You can also substitute with a full-bodied tea, such as Earl Grey.
Prep the tea in advance: Make the simple syrup and brew the tea (step 1) and allow to cool completely. Chill in the refrigerator overnight. This will help save time when you're ready to make the beverage!
Notes from Ryan Mitchell, Ed Mitchell's son
"In Raleigh, we started to add watermelon puree to our sweet tea as a natural sugar.
Sweet tea is a staple beverage in the South and a part of our barbeque tradition. It is our
most refreshing drink. Also, it is affordable and easy to make. Buying cases of soda can
get expensive. But with a few tea bags and some sugar, everyone gets a cup."
Sweet tea is a staple beverage in the South and a part of our barbeque tradition. It is our
most refreshing drink. Also, it is affordable and easy to make. Buying cases of soda can
get expensive. But with a few tea bags and some sugar, everyone gets a cup."
Nutrition
Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 520mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 78g | Vitamin A: 2598IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
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