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mcdonald's sweet tea recipe

McDonald's Sweet Tea Recipe

A copycat recipe for McDonald's iconic sweet tea that combines strong brewed black tea with sugar and a secret pinch of baking soda. Make this refreshing Southern-inspired beverage at home in just 10 minutes for a fraction of the cost.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 128
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 8 regular-sized black tea bags Lipton preferred
  • 1 cup granulated sugar regular granulated white sugar
  • 1 pinch baking soda about 1/16 teaspoon, secret ingredient
  • 8 cups water divided, filtered water preferred
  • as needed ice cubes for serving
Optional Additions
  • as desired fresh lemon slices
  • as desired fresh mint sprigs
  • as desired extra ice

Equipment

  • cocktail shaker or mason jar
  • measuring spoons

Method
 

Step 1: Boil Your Water
  1. In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a rolling boil. Using filtered water rather than tap water will give you a cleaner taste that more closely resembles McDonald's version. Measure your water precisely—too much water dilutes the flavor, while too little creates tea that's too strong.
Step 2: Steep the Tea Bags
  1. Once the water reaches a full boil, remove the pot from heat. Add all 8 tea bags and the pinch of baking soda. Cover the pot with a lid and allow the tea to steep for exactly 5 minutes. Set a timer—this precision matters! Don't squeeze the tea bags after steeping as this releases bitter tannins that affect the smooth taste McDonald's is known for.
Step 3: Add Sugar While Hot
  1. After 5 minutes, remove the tea bags and immediately add the full cup of sugar to the hot tea. Stir continuously until the sugar completely dissolves.
Step 4: Dilute with Cold Water
  1. Add the remaining 6 cups of cold water to the hot tea mixture. Stir well to combine.
Step 5: Chill
  1. Refrigerate until completely chilled. Serve over ice cubes in 16-20 oz glasses.