Calling all southerners!

[tar heel]

I've never known anyone who put baking soda in tea.

 

[Tricia1972]

I didn't either, until I read that link. All the comments about the baking soda were that it cuts on bitterness. (Maybe so you have to add less sugar )

I'm from Wisconsin though, I don't know much about sweet tea by birth.

 

[gharrison]

I know of one restaurant here in Alabama who uses Brown sugar and it is very sweet. I grew up in Florida and evertime I go back, I always ask for sweet tea just to see the response.

 

[kbeam]

This is probably a dumb question, but if sweet tea is only tea with sugar, why not sweeten it yourself at the table? I'm from the north, so maybe I'm missing some crucial process.

 

[Tricia1972]

This is probably a dumb question, but if sweet tea is only tea with sugar, why not sweeten it yourself at the table? I'm from the north, so maybe I'm missing some crucial process.

I've made the 'broken' recipe with the tiny bit of baking soda a few times, and I can testify (from the north) that it tastes totally different. (I think it's great, even with the baking soda! )

The only thing I can think of is that the sugar dissolves differently (more into a syrup) when it's mixed in with the hot tea.

 

[CathieArms]

This is probably a dumb question, but if sweet tea is only tea with sugar, why not sweeten it yourself at the table? I'm from the north, so maybe I'm missing some crucial process.

Sugar doesn't dissolve well in cold tea. When you add sugar to hot tea (after the brewing process and before adding ice), then you don't get a bunch of sugar settling to the bottom.

 

[JusbKoz]

Southern girl here........Grew up with sweet tea. We moved to Florida, close to Disney for two years and we would always get strange looks when we asked for "sweet tea". Our friends informed us that at the restaurants it is called "ice tea". We started to ask for this and had no problems getting sweet tea at area restaurants. Disney is diffrent though not brewed tea.
Also I agree with the previous post...do not add the sugar to cold water.
Strange as it seems but what your water from your faucet(if not filtered) will alter the taste of your sweet tea also. I have lived in 4 diffrent states now and currently have to filter my water because the faucet water makes my sweet tea taste bad.

 

[Missytara]

I can't remember where it was but there was one restaurant in Disney that actually did have sweet tea when we were there earlier this month. I wish I could remember which one.

I got sweet tea at the ESPN club just last year.

Oops, wait a minute. That was sweet tea vodka - never mind.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Never heard of making sweet tea with baking soda.

I think someone posted once that Trail's End has sweet tea, but we've never eaten there. I usually drink Diet Coke at Disney and go offsite to Chick-fil-a if I need a tea fix.

 

[Aristocath]

I've lived in Texas most of my life and I'm feeling that Texas isn't the South. I've never had sweet tea! I occasionally order iced tea in restaurants but I've never added sugar. That would ruin the taste of the tea! The only place I can think of in Fort Worth that offers sweet tea is Chick-Fil-A.

 

[acc82]

I got sweet tea at the ESPN club just last year.

Oops, wait a minute. That was sweet tea vodka - never mind.

Sweet tea vodka is also somewhat of a southern thing right now. You can find it around here in bars but from what I hear, it's not as prevalant in the northern states. Firefly in south carolina basically created sweet tea vodka and it's helping to spread the sweet tea craze thorough the country. I love sweet tea vodka with some lemonade.

As for the baking soda: no - i've never added baking soda and don't know anyone who does. I add about a cup of sugar to 2 quarts.

And, yes, the difference is that in the south, the sugar is added while the tea is hot so it dissolves. You won't find a restaurant where I grew up that doesn't serve sweet tea.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

When we were at WDW in Dec. 2008, I was able to get real, freshly brewed sweet tea at the Garden Grill in the Land at Epcot. It's the only WDW restaurant in which I've been able to find real sweet tea. It was very good.

 

[phyllis1966]

Here in Yankee territory we just call it "iced tea." However, few people actually brew it themselves. Most of us grew up with powdered iced tea in a can that you just added a few scoops to a pitcher of water - cold, sweet and tasty (but now as an adult, I realize what a fake taste it is). If you order iced tea in a restaurant up here, it is real brewed tea, but unsweetened, so you have to add sweetener, which of course falls to the bottom of the glass and doesn't dissolve properly no matter how long you stir it!

I feel your pain as DH loves sweet tea (even though he's a Yankee) and can't get the real thing anywhere up here...

 

[mrspopeye]

Go to Cracker Barrel for your sweet tea fix, as well as all other Southern tastes that are otherwise hard to find. Grits, anyone?

 

[sorul82?]

This is probably a dumb question, but if sweet tea is only tea with sugar, why not sweeten it yourself at the table? I'm from the north, so maybe I'm missing some crucial process.

trying to recover from this post.........................


J/K...or am I?

 

[sorul82?]

Does Trails End and Liberty Tree Tavern still have sweet tea?

I have threatened over the years to set up a sweet tea distillery at WDW.

 

[sorul82?]

Proper sweet tea; the 12 step process.

1. Get your tea pot out of the cabinet or off the drying rack.
Note: a tea pot is not to be confused with a tea kettle. It is a regular pot that you only use for making tea.
2. Get out 4 tea bags, open the wrappers, and be careful not to tear off the paper tabs.
3. Twist them around each other a few times and clip to the pot handle using a clothes pin.
4. Fill pot 3/4 full, put on the stove, and turn burner to high.
5. Wait for tea to boil.
Note: Do NOT leave the stove when making tea. Tell Lois or Eula Mae that you will call them back after you make your tea.
6. While you are waiting for your tea to boil, rinse out your pitcher. NEVER let your pitcher soak in soapy water. Soap flavored tea anyone?
7. Put two cups of sugar in your pitcher.
8. If your tea is still not boiling, go ahead and get your glass out of the cabinet, but don't put the ice in yet.
9. When tea starts to boil, IMMEDIATELY remove it from the stove; you don't want your tea bags to bust.
10. Pour tea into the pitcher and stir with a wooden spoon.
11. I put the tea bags back in the pot and fill up the pot with cold water and gently press on the bags with the wooden spoon being careful not to bust the bags, then pour into the pitcher.
12. Repeat 11 until your pitcher is full. Fill your glass with ice, pour yourself some tea, and put the pitcher in the fridge.

If you are expecting company, or if it's Sunday, rinse your pot and start another batch. Otherwise, immediately wash your pot and have it in the ready.

 

[MHolleman]

I am a southern girl that LOVES some sweet tea. Believe it or not though, there are even places here in NC that don't serve sweet tea. Try going to Duck or Corrolla at the Outer Banks of NC and you just can't find it. :-( There are more northerners that visit here than locals!!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I got sweet tea at the ESPN club just last year.

Oops, wait a minute. That was sweet tea vodka - never mind.

Sweet tea vodka is also somewhat of a southern thing right now. You can find it around here in bars but from what I hear, it's not as prevalant in the northern states. Firefly in south carolina basically created sweet tea vodka and it's helping to spread the sweet tea craze thorough the country. I love sweet tea vodka with some lemonade.

This stuff is awesome!! We live in SC and were so excited when we first found it. Mixed in lemonade it's so good!!!



I believe I saw another thread like this before and I think people said Trail's End and Liberty Tree Tavern?

Being a Yankee transplant to the South I can tell you that sweet tea and sweetened iced tea are VERY different. It's the fact that you add the hot tea to the sugar and it makes it more syrupy that makes sweet tea SO MUCH better

 

[mmtska]

Being a Yankee transplant to the South I can tell you that sweet tea and sweetened iced tea are VERY different. It's the fact that you add the hot tea to the sugar and it makes it more syrupy that makes sweet tea SO MUCH better

Exactly! I spent my entire life in PA, but had friends that grew up in the south. I LOVE sweet tea! I can sweeten my own tea too, but sweet tea is just tastier. Although since trying to cut down on sugar myself, I try not to drink so much.