I love southern style sweet tea. There’s something about a beverage that starts off as something that was pretty healthy (like tea) but then gets loaded up with sugar that really appeals to my sweet tooth. Making sweet tea at home is super easy, but it is important to have the best sweet tea pitcher to brew and serve it in.
The Best Sweet Tea Pitcher Reviewed
When you’re brewing sweet tea at home the most important thing to realize when choosing a pitcher is you’ll be pouring boiling water into it (assuming you’ll be brewing in the same pitcher you want to serve it in). That means you need something that will tolerate high temperatures like glass. Plastic usually isn’t good for this purpose.
A lot of people want to make sweet tea for entertaining. That’s why I included a variety of practical and decorative options for you to choose from on this list. One thing to keep in mind is southern etiquette dictates sweet tea stay refrigerated and is served cold. That means you should opt for a sweet tea pitcher that fits in your fridge.
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Sweet Tea history
Did you know the oldest known sweet tea recipe dates back to 1879? It actually called for green tea instead of black, since that’s what people drank commonly back then. In fact, sweet tea made from black tea didn’t become popular until World War II when conflict with Japan cut off green tea supplies to the United States. It also used to be mixed with hard alcohol and other flavours, but that trend has (mostly) died too thanks to prohibition.
In fact, prohibition actually helped sweet tea become even more popular. While it was already widespread thanks to the 1904 World’s Fair (where it was shown off), sweet tea became a popular replacement for alcohol. That might be why we still serve it in tall, nice drink-ware today!
How to Make Homemade Sweet Tea
There’s so many different ways to make sweet tea depending on your preferences. You can make it with a simple syrup or by mixing sugar, water, and brewed tea. Regardless of the recipe you choose, you’re going to need several black tea bags and a large sweet tea pitcher to mix it in.
Usually sweet tea is mixed hot – that means you’re adding the sugar to hot liquid. Why? Well, the hot water allows sugar to mix in easier than with a cold brew. That’s because those water molecules are moving around making the binding between sugar and water easier, and the sugar dissolves faster.
Another tip when making sweet tea is to brew it a little bit stronger. That way when you serve it over ice you don’t have to worry about your sweet tea getting watered down too much. This is especially necessary if you’re serving sweet tea under the hot southern sun.
Make sure you let your sweet tea (and pitcher) cool down before putting it in the fridge. If you put hot liquids in the fridge to cool it actually raises the temperature inside which not only overworks your fridge, it can also cause other foods to spoil.
Hiware Glass Pitcher with Stainless Steel Lid
This sweet tea pitcher comes in a few size options depending on the amount you want to make. Personally, I would rather have a bigger pitcher than one that’s too small, so I would recommend going with the 64 ounce if you’re not sure. You can pour your boiling water right into the pitcher when brewing tea for sweet tea but it’s also ready to serve.
The lid also has a filter so you can add other things (like lemon) to your iced tea for extra flavoring.
Pros:
- Heat proof
- Lid has a strainer built in
- Can be used to brew, serve, and store sweet tea
Cons:
- Handle is thin and might break easily
- Lid doesn’t seal
- Drips during pouring
Large Heat Resistant Glass Beverage Pitcher
I love the size of this sweet tea pitcher! Not only does it hold a whopping 95 ounces, it has the measurements on the side so mixing is super easy. It has a modern and elegant design that’s perfect for entertaining. Just looking at it makes me want to throw a summer BBQ!
The bamboo lid is a nice touch, especially since it can be used to seal the pitcher so you can make your sweet tea ahead of time. The only downside is that the lid doesn’t strain if you want to add fruit.
Pros:
- Very large sweet tea pitcher
- Stylish design for entertaining
- Wide mouth for mixing and adding ice
Cons:
- Fragile because the glass is thin
- Has to be hand washed
- Markings don’t include ounces
BOQO Glass Water Pitcher
Borosilicate Glass Pitcher with Lid and Spout
I love the unique diamond design on this sweet tea pitcher. At 68 ounces you’ll have plenty of capacity to serve a crowd. You can put hot and cold water in it and it’s even microwave safe; perfect if you’re making sweet tea. stainless steel lid has an open and filter side so you can infuse drinks with lemons or other fruit.
One cool feature about this glass pitcher is that it can even be placed on the stove. That means you can boil your water and make sweet tea all in the same pitcher!
Pros:
- Boil water and brew in the same pitcher
- Durable and lightweight
- Stylish with a functional lid
Cons:
- Difficult to hand wash
- Tea can stain it after extended use
- Lid doesn’t completely seal
Circleware Yorkshire Sun Tea Mason Jar Drink Dispenser
If you need the best sweet tea pitcher to serve large groups this is it. With a 2 gallon capacity and a handy dispensing spout, this is a must have if you’re throwing any kind of southern style party. It’s shaped like an old fashioned mason jar for a decorative and vintage inspired touch.
This would be a great addition to a party like a birthday, anniversary, wedding, or even just a backyard BBQ.
Pros:
- Extra large capacity
- Dispenser makes pouring easy
- Easy to clean and sanitize
Cons:
- Lid doesn’t seal
- Spout not great quality and sometimes leaks
- Doesn’t store well in the fridge (too large)
What is the Best Sweet Tea Pitcher?
It’s hard to believe that drink pitchers aren’t all the same but there really are a lot of differences between sweet peat pitchers. Since we’re talking about making sweet tea and not just using them for cold drinks, it’s important to find something that’s heat resistant. You also want durability so you get the most bang for your buck. Lastly, it should be stylish to use when serving guests or just to make your everyday a little nicer.
For that reason I’d recommend the Borosilicate Glass Pitcher with Lid and Spout. This sweet tea pitcher has a classic design but makes a few design choices that stand out compared to other options. The capacity is good, which is important for everyday use and entertaining. It has a nice handle and the diamond design looks great on the table
The Good
Unlike some other sweet tea pitchers, this one is super resistant to changing temperatures. You can put it right on the stove to boil water, or pour boiled water into it to brew your tea. No need to mix is a seperate pitcher! It’s also dishwasher and microwave safe to make things easy.
I like that the lid has three options: open, strained, and closed. The pitcher itself is very lightweight so it’s easy to carry and pour. The glass is a bit thin, but it needs to be in order to support changing temperatures. With the diamond pattern and design it’s still very durable
The Bad
The lid, while being nice, is one of the biggest drawbacks of this pitcher. First of all, it doesn’t have an airtight seal when closed. That means the pitcher is always being exposed to air. Sometimes it can even fall off when pouring which isn’t very convenient.
Another problem is that it’s tough to clean by hand. Larger hands probably won’t fit inside easily. Other than running it through the dishwasher, your best bet is to buy a bottle brush to clean it.
The Verdict
Despite a couple of drawbacks this is still the best sweet tea pitcher. It’s a good size for everyday, but maybe not the ideal choice if you’re serving a crowd. (Go with a large spouted one instead.) Still, the fact that you can boil, brew, and serve all in the same pitcher really makes this pitcher worth every penny.
