Sweet tea is a popular iced tea in the American South, made by adding sugar to hot tea before chilling. It can be made with black, green, or herbal tea and is often served with lemon and mint. Sweet tea is cheaper and healthier than soft drinks and can be diluted with cold water or ice.
Sweet tea is a type of iced tea that is sweetened during brewing, rather than after it’s iced. It is strongly associated with the American South, although other cultures around the world make variations on sweet tea. Some people find sweet tea too much to handle, as the traditional level of sweetener is very high. Others, especially in the South, can’t imagine life without sweet tea, and the drink is ubiquitous at picnics and restaurants throughout the South.
To make sweet tea, a pitcher of tea is brewed and sugar is added while the water is still hot. The hot water completely dissolves the sugar so that it forms a suspension in the water, rather than sinking to the bottom. The sweetness of the sugar tempers the tannins in the tea, resulting in a drink that is more sweet than bitter. Once the sugar has been blended, the tea is chilled in preparation for serving, when it can be offered with garnishes such as lemon and mint.
Different cooks add water at different stages of preparation. For example, some like to steep their tea in sugar, while others take out the teabags before adding the sugar. Either way, it’s a great idea to taste sweet tea as it’s brewed, so you get just the right level of sweetness. In the southern United States, sweet tea can be almost painfully painful, while more delicate forms are available in other parts of the country.
The origins of sweet tea in America date back to at least the 1800s, when a recipe for sweet tea was published in a Southern cookbook. Traditionally, sweet tea is made with black tea, although variations with green tea or herbal tea are sometimes available. Some cooks also like to make sweet tea with fruit-infused black teas, which can create a very interesting flavor.
Like other iced teas, sweet tea can be quite refreshing on a hot day, especially when served over ice. The ubiquitous hot beverage can be a great substitute for soft drinks, which are often made with high-fructose corn syrup and high levels of artificial ingredients. Sweet tea is also much cheaper than most soft drinks, costing only a small portion. Some cooks deliberately brew the tea very strong, so they can dilute it when serving with cold water or ice.
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