Reaction of a tellurium alkaline ethanol solution and tin(II) tartaric acid complex produced ultrafine SnTe powder with a cubic phase. The XRD pattern indicated that the tellurium alkaline ethanol solution as a tellurium source, made the product crystallize well at 140 degrees C on reflux. The TEM image showed that the particle size was in the range of 0.25-0.50 mu m. The mechanism of the formation of tin(II) telluride was discussed.