{This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my full Disclosure Policy.}
Craving sweet tea, but want to avoid refined sugar? This Guilt-Free Sweet Tea is naturally sweetened so you can enjoy a refreshing glass anytime; it’s almost too good to be true!
I grew up in central Pennsylvania, where Amish buggies and whoopie pies (yum!) are commonplace. However, after my husband and I got married, we moved to North Carolina and began to hear “y’all” spoken as frequently as we previously saw the Amish buggies.
Without even realizing it, I began to adopt (and love!) a few of the typical southern habits — sweet tea, Carolina BBQ, and football. (Well, just kidding on that last one!)
But a few years ago, my husband and I detoxed the sugar out of our systems, and we vowed not to keep white sugar in our kitchen anymore.
Obviously, this presented a problem when it comes to my love of sweet tea!
Related Article: What I Learned from a 7-Day Sugar Detox
What Makes this Sweet Tea Refined Sugar Free?
After plenty of skepticism about using any other sweetener in my tea, I finally bit the bullet and decided to try out stevia, which others raved about. (Stevia is a natural plant-based sweetener that is zero glycemic, so it doesn’t cause your blood sugar to spike, and you won’t experience a sugar crash! Hooray!)
Unfortunately, after several investigatory trips to our local grocery stores, I was confused by the various forms of stevia products–granulated, liquid, blends… and I was too intimidated to purchase any of them.
Eventually, I broke down and picked up this liquid stevia. I had to at least TRY an alternative sweetener before assuming they were all just as unhealthy as–or worse than!–white sugar.
How NOT to Use Liquid Stevia
Next came several “failed” attempts of using stevia: a baking flop where I obviously didn’t get the proportions correct to sub it 1:1 for white sugar; and a bitter aftertaste so strong it ruined my sweet tea enjoyment.
What I learned about liquid stevia:
- Liquid stevia CANNOT be used 1:1 to replace granulated sugar in many baking recipes. The texture will be compromised. (A few drops of liquid are obviously different from a cup of fluffy sugar!)
- Liquid stevia is so (naturally) sweet, and a little goes a long way! Too much stevia can actually leave you with a bitter aftertaste!
Finally, I found a happy outcome..this recipe! I’m naming it Guilt-Free Sweet Tea because that’s exactly how I feel whenever I drink it; like I’ve outsmarted the world or something. Well, at least my sugar confusion.
What You’ll Need to Make Guilt-Free Sweet Tea:
- Heatproof pitcher (I use this 8-cup glass)
- Black tea bags (decaf or regular)
- Liquid stevia (I prefer this organic one)
- Filtered water
How to Make Guilt-Free Sweet Tea:
It’s so easy to make this guilt-free sweet tea! Here’s my lazy easy go-to method:
- Heat 2 cups water in the microwave for 2-4 minutes, until boiling.
- Next, drop the tea bags into the boiling water to steep for 4-5 minutes.
- Discard the tea bags and add cold water and sweetener to taste.
Super simple!
Other Refreshing Drinks You’ll Love:
- Strawberry Lemonade Refresher
- Homemade Chocolate Milk (using homemade chocolate syrup)
- Low Sugar Party Drinks for Kids
Yield: 6 cups
Craving sweet tea, but want to avoid refined sugar? This Guilt-Free Sweet Tea is naturally sweetened so you can enjoy a refreshing glass anytime; it's almost too good to be true!
7 minCook Time
7 minTotal Time
Save RecipeIngredients
- 2 cups hot water
- 6 black tea bags
- 4 cups cold water
- 1/8 tsp liquid stevia (see note below)
Instructions
- In a large heat-proof pitcher , heat 2 cups water in the microwave for 2-4 minutes, until boiling.
- Next, drop the tea bags into the boiling water to steep for 5 minutes.
- Discard the tea bags and add cold water and stevia to taste. If sweeter tea is desired, add additional stevia (one drop at a time) to taste.
- Refrigerate the tea until serving, or serve immediately over ice in a mason jar. (Optional) Add a slice of lemon.
Notes
Since stevia is so sweet, a little goes a long way! You may want to start with 1/16 tsp and taste before adding more. (Too much stevia can taste bitter!)
Leave a Reply