Step 1

In a medium saucepan add 2 cups water, 1 cup sugar, and sliced strawberries. Cook over medium-high and bring to a boil.

Step 2

Reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes, or until strawberries are soft and the liquid is a deep red color.

Step 3

Strain the strawberries using a mesh strainer into your pitcher. Press down on the strawberries gently, but make sure to not press too hard. You don’t want any strawberry chunks in your sweet tea.

Step 4

While the strawberry simple syrup is cooling in the pitcher add 3 cups of hot water to a large bowl. Place 3 family sized tea bags into the hot water and let steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags from the bowl and throw away.

Step 5

Add 1 cup of sugar into the bowl with the tea and stir well.

Step 6

Dump the sweet tea from the bowl to the pitcher.

Step 7

Add 8 cups cold water to the pitcher and stir well.

Step 8

Add the juice from 1 large lemon to your sweet tea and mix well.

Step 9

Cover the pitcher and refrigerate 2-3 hours, or until very cold. Serve over ice and enjoy!