As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This delicious Sweet Tea With Honey uses honey instead of buckets of sugar. Learn how simple it is to make sweet tea without refined sugar.

a mason jar of sweet tea topped with lemons and mint
Want to save this recipe?
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

The wait is over – a sweet tea with honey recipe is here my friends!

Need a faster way to make a bunch of tea at once? Check out this post on Instant Pot iced tea.

a note from sarah

ingredient highlight

Wondering about the baking soda in this recipe?

If you let the tea steep for a long time because you prefer a strong flavor it can cause the tea to become bitter. The baking soda neutralizes that and just gives you the perfect tea flavor without a funky aftertaste.

Baking soda is my secret ingredient for cutting the acidity or bitterness out of lots of foods and drinks. Many people add sugar to balance out bitterness, but baking soda gets the job done like a baller (shot caller).

a canning jar with a slice of lemon and a sprig of mint.

How Long Will Sweet Tea With Honey Last in the Fridge?

This honey-sweetened tea is best consumed within 7-10 days if stored in the fridge.

Process shots for making iced tea.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes:

  • Don’t have family-style bags? You can use 7 normal tea bags instead.
  • Adding honey to cold iced tea just does not work. Make sure you add it after the 15-minute steeping process before it goes into the fridge.
mason jars with ice, lemon, and mint.

Recipe Variations:

  • Our preferred way of enjoying this sweet tea is 3/4 tea and 1/4 lemonade – ‘Palmer style!
    • Pro tip: use lemon-flavored sparkling water to make it a sparkling Arnold Palmer.
  • Try experimenting with flavored teas like fruity or tropical teas.
  • Add lemon or lime wedges or add fresh fruit.

I won’t even compare this sweet team with honey to “real” sweet tea in terms of sugar consumption. But, let’s just say this version won’t give you the crazy energy rush that would allow you to tie a rope around your waist and tow your car home.

4.86 from 14 ratings

Sweet Tea With Honey

Servings: 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
a mason jar of healthy sweet tea topped with lemons and mint
This delicious sweet tea with honey uses honey instead of buckets of sugar. Learn how simple it is to make sweet tea without refined sugar.

Ingredients 

  • 1 family style black or green tea bag
  • 1/3 cup raw honey
  • 4 cups water {boiling}
  • 4 cups water {cold}
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda {optional}

Instructions 

Stovetop Instructions

  • Bring 4 cups of water to a near boil.
    4 cups water
  • Add tea bag(s) and (optional) baking soda, and cover the pan. Remove from heat, and let steep for 15 minutes.
    1 family style black or green tea bag, 1/8 tsp baking soda
  • Remove tea bags, pour into a pitcher, add the honey and stir.
    1/3 cup raw honey
  • Add 4 cups of cold water and place in the fridge.
    4 cups water

Sun Tea Instructions

  • Place tea, honey, 8 cups of room temperature water, and baking soda in a sun tea jar. Place in a sunny place.
  • Stir occasionally if possible to distribute the honey. The length of time to steep will depend on how hot it is outside.
  • Serve over ice if you’d like to serve immediately. Transfer to the refrigerator and cool.

Notes

Don’t have family-style bags? Use 7 small tea bags instead.
 
Makes 1/2 gallon or 2 quarts.
 
if you would like to serve immediately, add 2 cups of cold water and 2 cups of ice.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 34kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 16mgPotassium: 5mgSugar: 9gIron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!

Explore Recipes

Shop This Post

About Sarah Cook

I'm here to help you make easy, seasonal, and no-fuss recipes for yourself and your family.

Whether it's a quick one-pot dinner or if I am teaching you how to can and preserve local produce, you can consider me your elder millennial grandma

You May Also Like:

4.86 from 14 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

41 Comments

    1. It all depends on the tea you use. You’re welcome to use caffeinated, decaf, or even some of each for “half-caff”.

      Most tea boxes will list the caffeine level on the front or back by the ingredients.

    1. It is a great way to mellow the taste of things that might be acidic without using sugar. I use it in tomato products a lot (like tomato soup, spaghetti sauce, etc.). It’s optional but definitely try it at least once. You’ll love it!

      1. Wow Sarah – thank you so much for the tip about Baking Soda – I will most definitely try it. I have used sugar in to cut the acid in Tomato Soup and spaghetti.5 stars

        1. My pleasure, Kathi! If you want to really have your mind blown with what else baking soda can do, try it to marinate chicken breast. This recipe has the steps for how to do it (you HAVE to rinse it thoroughly).