The Citrusy Twist You Need In Your Next Pitcher Of Sweet Tea
We all know that a squeeze of lemon is the perfect complement to a glass of sweet tea, but have you ever tried a squeeze of lime? Lime isn't the traditional citrus addition to sweet tea, but you might be surprised at just how flavorful this combination is. Lime is a great pairing for sweeter drinks because of its slight sourness. Unlike lemons, limes have stronger bitter elements. This flavor combination with the sugar in sweet tea makes for a more balanced drink. While lemon might make your tea taste brighter, lime may give it a smoother mouth feel.
You can add lime to individual glasses of tea or incorporate it into a whole pitcher. If you're trying this hack for the first time, start by squeezing a lime wedge into your drink before fully committing to a pitcher. If you've decided to add it to a whole pitcher, gradually add the juice. You don't want to overpower your tea and make it too bitter. Use the proper lime-cutting technique to get the most juice and flavor.
Ways to customize your lime and sweet tea
Other fun additions to try with this combo include adding vanilla or fresh mint leaves to your sweet tea. Both of these special ingredients bring in another level of flavor, and both pair well with the other components to give your tea a unique edge. You can also take the inclusion of lime to the max by making an Arnold Palmer with limeade instead of lemonade. This gives you a potent lime flavor throughout for a refreshing, citrus-focused drink. To do this just use an equal ratio of limeade to sweet tea and enjoy over ice.
While black tea is traditional for classic, Southern-style sweet tea, changing the kind of tea you use is an easy way to customize your drink. Green tea and citrus pair well together, thanks to their shared earthy flavor. You can sweeten this combo with sugar or honey for a smooth, caffeinated beverage. If you're of age, you can take your lime and sweet tea and turn it into an adult beverage with the inclusion of alcohol. Given its ability to combine with many flavors, vodka is the most straightforward option. However, if you want to experiment, try using tequila. Tequila and lime are a natural pairing in the cocktail world, so it wouldn't be that strange to use it in this context.