Southern Sweet Tea Recipe

If your family is anything like mine, you know that there is nothing better to drink than an iced cold glass of sweet tea. It compliments any meal and tastes great on a hot summer day. Not all sweet tea is the same as you probably well know. I don't even bother to order tea from any menu because it is either instant tea or brewed tea without any taste.
After many years of helping raise four children and marriage of almost 30 years, I think I just about have the art of making this refreshing drink down to a "tea." I did not realize this until recently when a friend and I were discussing making tea. She stated that her tea never tasted sweet, or had much flavor. I shared with her what I am about to share with you...that it is easy to get good tasting sweet tea that your family will love.
Items needed:
1. Family size tea bags
2. 1 Gallon pitcher
3. 2 Cup glass measuring cup
4. 1 Cup sugar
5. Long handle spoon
Instructions:
1. Fill the glass measuring cup with about 2 cups water.
2. Pour 1 cup sugar in the gallon pitcher.
3. Place 2 family size tea bags in the measuring cup and microwave 3 minutes on high. Remove the measuring cup from the microwave. Hold the strings on the teas bags and bounce the tea in the water a few times and then pour the tea water into the pitcher while keeping the bags in the measuring cup. Stir tea and water mixture together to allow sugar to begin to dissolve.
4. Refill measuring cup containing the tea bags with about 2 more cups of water. Microwave again but for only 2 1/2 minutes this time. You may need to adjust the time according to your microwave power so that the boiling process does not cause the tea bags to burst. Remove from microwave and pour this tea water into the pitcher as well. Stir mixture again.
5. Allow the tea mixture to sit overnight or for a few hours if possible before adding the additional water to make your full gallon. This will cause the sugar and tea to blend together in such a way so that the tea will achieve the fullest flavor. I encourage you to give this method a try, then see if you don't agree with me that this is some "good old" southern sweet tea.