As a Southerner, few things delight my taste buds more than a tall, cold glass of sweet iced tea on a hot summer day. The sugary nectar cools and refreshes, while the bold tea flavor provides the perfect pick-me-up. Of all the sweet teas I’ve sampled, my all-time favorite has to be Bojangles’ Sweet Iced Tea. With its perfect blend of sweetness and tea flavor, this beverage is simply irresistible!
In this post, I’ll share my recipe for replicating the delicious Bojangles’ Sweet Iced Tea we all know and love. I’ve tweaked and tested it over time to get it just right. With this easy homemade version, you can enjoy this Southern treat any time a craving hits. Let’s get started to make this Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea Recipe!
What Does Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea Taste Like?
Bojangles’ Sweet Iced Tea has a perfectly balanced, rich tea flavor complemented by a touch of sweetness. It’s smooth, deeply flavored, and utterly thirst-quenching.
The tea itself has robust flavor with pleasant bitterness that comes through, rather than being drowned out by sugar. It’s brewed strong to allow that genuine black tea taste to shine.
The sweetness level is spot on as well. There’s just enough sugar added to take the edge off the tea’s natural bitterness. The result is a smooth, rounded flavor that’s sweet but not cloying.
How to Make Copycat Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea?
Recreating the Bojangles sweet tea experience at home is simple with just a few ingredients:
Ingredients Needed
- 8 cups water
- 2 family-size black tea bags (such as Luzianne)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
Kitchen Appliances
- Large saucepan
- Stirring spoon
- Pitcher for chilling
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Boil the Water: In a large saucepan, bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil over high heat.
Step 2. Steep the Tea: Remove the saucepan from heat and add the family-size black tea bags. Allow them to steep for 5 minutes, letting the tea infuse with robust flavor.
Step 3. Sweeten the Brew: Discard the tea bags and stir in ½ cup of granulated sugar and ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda until completely dissolved.
Step 4. Chill and Serve: Let the tea cool for 2 hours in a pitcher in the refrigerator. When ready, serve the Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea over ice.
Special Notes for Making Copycat Bojangles Sweet Tea
Here are a few special tips for making my copycat Bojangles sweet tea recipe taste its absolute best:
- Use real granulated sugar rather than sweeteners. The real sugar provides the signature smooth, balanced sweetness.
- Allow the tea concentrate to chill for at least 2 full hours. This long chilling time allows the flavors to develop and meld.
- When pouring over ice, use generous amounts of ice. The larger ice cubes dilute the tea slowly for optimal flavor.
- Adjust the sugar amount to your preferences. Feel free to tweak the 1/2 cup amount up or down.
- Use Luzianne or other robust black tea bags. The strong tea flavor stands up to the sugar.
- Brew the tea bags for the full 5 minutes. This brew time extracts lots of rich, authentic tea flavor.
- Stir in a pinch of baking soda for an extra smooth cup of tea. It balances acidity.
What to Serve with Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea
A frosty glass of Bojangles sweet tea pairs perfectly with so many classic Southern recipes. Here are some of my favorites:
- Fried chicken – Tendery, juicy fried chicken is simply made for sweet tea. Enjoy them together for an iconic Southern meal.
- Biscuits – Flaky, buttery biscuits and sweet tea is a match made in heaven. For an extra treat, drizzle your biscuit with homemade jam.
- Pimento cheese sandwiches – Cool, creamy pimento cheese between bread with a glass of sweet tea can’t be beat!
- Potato salad – The tangy, creamy flavors of potato salad complement the sweet tea flawlessly.
- Barbecue – Smoky brisket, pulled pork, or ribs get even better with a sweet tea on the side.
- Cornbread – Crumble a wedge of cornbread into your sweet tea for a fun twist on these two Southern staples!
How to Store Leftover Sweet Iced Tea
This sweet tea recipe yields a concentrated amount that’s perfect for storing and enjoying all week long. Here are some tips for storing leftover sweet tea:
- Refrigerate the concentrate in a sealed pitcher for up to 5 days.
- For longer storage, pour the concentrate into freezer-safe containers. It will keep frozen for 2-3 months.
- When ready to serve again, thaw frozen concentrate overnight in the fridge.
- If needed, stir in a bit more sugar and diluted with water to taste after thawing.
- Pour over fresh ice cubes right before serving for optimal flavor and coldness.
Common Questions about Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea
What type of tea does Bojangles use?
Bojangles uses hearty, robust plain black tea like Luzianne to brew their sweet tea concentrate. The strong black tea stands up well to the sugar and ice for great flavor.
How long should you steep the tea bags?
For deeply flavored tea like Bojangles, steep the tea bags for a full 5 minutes before removing. This long steeping extracts lots of rich tea flavor.
Why add baking soda?
A tiny amount of baking soda helps balance the acidity in the tea, giving it a smooth taste. About 1/8 tsp per batch is plenty.
How much sugar should you use?
Bojangles sweet tea has just the right hint of sweetness without being overpowering. I’d recommend starting with 1/2 cup of sugar per batch and adjusting to taste.
What’s the best tea water temperature?
Brewing the tea with boiling hot water helps extract robust flavor. Then be sure to chill the concentrate well before serving over ice.
How long does the sweet tea last in the fridge?
The concentrate will keep for up to 5 days sealed in the fridge. Freeze any leftovers in airtight containers for longer storage.
Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea Recipe
Satisfy your Southern sweet tea cravings with this easy copycat recipe for Bojangles' iconic sweet iced tea. With just tea, sugar, and baking soda you can enjoy smooth, nostalgic sweet tea flavor at home.
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 2 family-size black tea bags (such as Luzianne)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Boil the Water: In a large saucepan, bring 8 cups of water to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Steep the Tea: Remove the saucepan from heat and add the family-size black tea bags. Allow them to steep for 5 minutes, letting the tea infuse with robust flavor.
- Sweeten the Brew: Discard the tea bags and stir in ½ cup of granulated sugar and ⅛ teaspoon of baking soda until completely dissolved.
- Chill and Serve: Let the tea cool for 2 hours in a pitcher in the refrigerator. When ready, serve the Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea over ice.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 60Sodium: 16mgCarbohydrates: 16gSugar: 15g
Enjoy an Authentic Southern Sweet Tea Experience
I hope you’ll give this easy copycat Bojangles Sweet Iced Tea Recipe a try the next time those Bojangles sweet tea cravings hit! With just a few minutes of steeping and chilling, you can enjoy this Southern classic from the comfort of home. Savor the smooth, balanced tea flavor that brings back happy memories of weekends enjoying sweet tea with loved ones.
This Bojangles sweet tea recipe is truly the perfect blend of rich tea flavor with just a kiss of sweetness. Share a pitcher with friends and family at your next backyard cookout or Sunday dinner. No matter how you drink it, this sweet tea delivers quintessential Southern refreshment and nostalgia in every sip.
So sit back, relax, and let this Bojangles copycat sweet tea transport your tastebuds straight to the South!
