So is Florida "sweet tea" what we'd call Nestea/iced tea up in Canada?

[Christine]

IDK what kind of yankee business that is, but that is not how my nannie (grandmother) used to make her tea, nor anyone I've ever met. You put the water and the teabags on to boil, and let it steep. Then you pour it in a pitcher, add sugar, and stir. When the sugar is dissolved, you add water to the tippy-top.

This is how I make mine also. Exactly. Sugar dissolves no problem in the hot, concentrated brew. A simple syrup is good to make, though, if you need to sweeten cold, unsweetened tea.

 

[cgncga]

So I remember trying iced tea at WDW and being in for a nice shock (DD spit it out lol). I hear people talking about "sweet tea" and just wanted to make sure it's what we'd normally call Nestea or just regular iced tea up in Canada.

As another Canadian whose daughter rarely drinks anything other than iced tea (when she is allowed pop) I have to say that the American sweet tea is nothing like the iced tea we are used to in Southern Ontario. She, too, is not at all impressed with the iced tea (sweet or not) that she can get in the US. When we have stayed on-site at Disney we have usually been able to find bottles of Nestea or Brisk iced tea in the food court and will buy her one or two over the course of the week letting her have a little each day.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

IDK what kind of yankee business that is, but that is not how my nannie (grandmother) used to make her tea, nor anyone I've ever met. You put the water and the teabags on to boil, and let it steep. Then you pour it in a pitcher, add sugar, and stir. When the sugar is dissolved, you add water to the tippy-top.

We make it similar to that, but we always add the sugar to the pot, stir until dissolved, then pour the tea mixture in the pitcher, before adding water. Most people I know use an iced tea maker now though.

Like many of you , I grew up drinking sweet tea, but now drink only unsweet tea. Then again, I only like diet soft drinks too. OTOH, my family in NC drink their tea so sweet it's basically syrup.

 

[tvguy]

Sweet Tea is actually a process not just tea with sugar. Sweet tea is a concentrated brewed tea that is cut with simple syrup instead of plain water. (Simple syrup is water and sugar that has been brought to heat, not quite boiling but above a simmer, until the sugar is dissolved and will not separate when cooled) It's a slightly different taste due to the cooked sugar.

Personally I abhor tea of any kind but I live in the Midwest and its popular here my family likes it.

There was a rather heated thread here years ago on sweet tea and how it is made. Only thing everyone agreed on is it is sweetened tea.
Some used sugar.
Some use simple syrup or corn syrup.

My VERY limit experience with sweet tea is based on just one week in Savannah where my wife's cousin made a point of taking us to mom and pop diners (including Mrs. Wilkes Dining room which has been continuous operation for 73 years) where they promote their "traditional" sweet tea sweetened with corn syrup. That was NOT the experience of others with sweet tea. But given how much HFCS historically produced in the south, and that fact that it can be stored for a long time, it would seem to make sense that it would be a popular ingredient.

 

[MrsDuck]

I'm a Southerner and hate sweet tea. But, I about drink my body weight in UNSWEET black tea daily. And, of course, I love hot tea, too (black with cream, please).

 

[Hikergirl]

I'm in NY and the only place I've ever ordered sweet tea is McD's and its crazy sweet. Its not like regular sweetened tea, I think they put alot more sugar in it. I have no idea if that is how it is in the south.

I drink unsweetened with lemon, and most places here give you unsweetened when you order "iced tea".

 

[Squirlz]

I grew up in a family that regularly stirred sugar into cold tea. Never had a problem, We even had utensils for the job. They are called "iced tea spoons".

 

[Skywalker]

I remember ordering "iced tea" somewhere in the U.S. and same reaction, we all spit it out lol. So then I thought "A-ha! 'Sweet tea' must be the ticket!" No. That was disgusting also. I have never found iced tea that was similar to our iced tea here in Ontario. We never order any type of cold tea beverage while across the border now lol.

 

[AP1209]

I'm a fellow Southerner (from Texas), and I also hate tea. We should form a support group.

I'll join! I'm from Texas too, and people look at me weird when I say I don't like tea. I especially hate sweet tea.

 

[bookgirl]

There was a rather heated thread here years ago on sweet tea and how it is made. Only thing everyone agreed on is it is sweetened tea.
Some used sugar.
Some use simple syrup or corn syrup.

My VERY limit experience with sweet tea is based on just one week in Savannah where my wife's cousin made a point of taking us to mom and pop diners (including Mrs. Wilkes Dining room which has been continuous operation for 73 years) where they promote their "traditional" sweet tea sweetened with corn syrup. That was NOT the experience of others with sweet tea. But given how much HFCS historically produced in the south, and that fact that it can be stored for a long time, it would seem to make sense that it would be a popular ingredient.

I can totally see that debate LOL

But either way the point is that Sweet Tea uses sugar that has been disolved using heat. Heating sugar just changes the flavor and gives a silky not gritty addition to drinks. (Simple syrup is also popular in better bars since most mixed drinks are cold and sweet drinks are popular)

While I don't like tea I do like coffee. I used to make hot coffee then disolve my sugar/sweetener in it and then keep it in the fridge for iced coffee. I can put sugar in cold coffee but it never fully disolved and it will taste slightly different from the iced coffe I sweeten while hot or the ones I buy at Starbucks which are sweetened with simple syrup.

Oh and I'm not a Yankee nor am I a southerner, I'm from Oklahoma. We do share one thing with Texas. We too are a state that defies being lumped with a region. Midwest is about as close as we get, but we're definitely not what would be considered North. HAHAHAHAHA

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow, it is amazing what people think that Sweet Tea is.

Where did this 'Nestea' reference come from...
That stuff is just nasty.

And, this 'syrup' thing... I am like WTH????
No way.

It is also not iced tea, sweetened after the fact.

Florida, some may feel, is not known for being a part of the 'South'.
I have not known Florida for good sweet tea.

So, I will climb atop my soapbox here and preach about southern sweet tea... Hahahaha!!!

Perhaps really good sweet tea is more of a regional thing.
Best when it is prepared by people in the region that are familiar with it, have perfected it, and are good at it.

As some have posted, here where I am in the South, sweet tea is tea that is brewed and prepared in such a way that the tea bags can almost simmer in the water on the stove. Then the sugar is dissolved in the hot tea, in order to fully dissolve more sugar and to meld the flavors. These two details bring out the rich smooth flavor. Then the appropriate amount of water is added, so that it is still strong enough that it does not become weak when poured over ice, and the ice begins to melt. When the tea has cooled, pour this over a glass of ice, filled all the way to the top with ice... Top with lemon, maybe a slight squeeze to give it a bit of a citrus kick....
AHHHHHHH!!!!!

PS: It seems that lately sweet tea is often WAY too sweet. Don't know why... But we call our McDonalds sweet tea McDonald's sweet syrup!!! This is why some mention mixing the sweet tea with unsweet.

Also, I do not put lemon down into the tea. The lemon and peel can sour very quickly... Just a squeeze, and maybe let it float on top of the ice and tea.

 

[goofyernmost]

First off, real southern Sweet Tea is brewed, with sugar or sweetener, not instant with sugar added. Over the last few years due to more northerners heading south and also more importantly, health reasons, they have been cutting back on the sugar content so if you get sweet tea by mistake it isn't such a nasty shock to the system. However, I just got in the habit of asking for unsweetened iced tea whenever I want iced tea. Sweet Tea still outsells, by double, Unsweetened tea, but, it's starting to even out. For a number of years after I moved here you couldn't buy bottled unsweetened tea in the stores. Now it's everywhere.

I never could understand flavored teas. Lemon added? Why not just have lemonade? I fail to see the difference.

Footnote: More often then not they still ask me if I want sugar with my unsweetened tea. I'll never figure these southerners out, but, since I hate cold and snow... I'll tough it out.

 

[Lavitz]

Wow thanks everyone for the replies, didn't think I'd get so much info on something as simple as tea. Had a nice laugh reading many of the comments here too.

In case anyone was wondering, as others from Canada have mentioned here, for the most part we don't have unsweetened tea up here (in southern Ontario at least). Iced tea is always sweetened (usually lemon flavored), and Nestea is the most common one (found in McDs, Red Lobsters, etc). And it's damn delicious too, but I don't judge anyone calling it gross, I jokingly refer to USA "iced tea" as sewer water so it's funny some of you guys hate ours as much as we hate yours. Wife just came back from Vegas and forgot about your iced tea situation, she had to throw her drink out the first day.

Anyways thanks for all the recipes, I'll be giving sweet tea a try. Though from the sounds of it it sounds much like what I often get when I make my tea in the morning and forgot about it until the afternoon. Cold steeped tea. Which as any proud Canadian will tell you, doesn't taste nearly as great as Nestea.

For the record I am not currently, nor have I ever been, in the employ of Nestea, Nestlé Canada Inc, Coca-Cola or any company owned wholly or in part by said companies. I just really, really like me some sweetened tea flavored beverages on a hot summer day!

 

[Wishing on a star]

... I just really, really like me some sweetened tea flavored beverages on a hot summer day!

Why, honey... y'all just come on down... And you can sit out on my front porch in my front-porch rockin' chairs.
I'll fix up the best batch of sweet tea you ever had!

 

[QueenIsabella]

I'm a tea drinker--iced or hot, depending on the time of day or time of year. I typically have tea sweetened with Splenda. We moved to NC from New England last year, and I tried sweet tea once. I couldn't choke it down. It was so sweet, it felt syrupy in my mouth. I'm sure it's an acquired taste. My family isn't interested in trying grits, pigs' feet, or chitlins, either. We do love the biscuits down here, though--gotta give a shout-out for those.

FTR, it also seems like stuff is super salty down here, as well. The first time we got fries from Bojangles, we thought there must have been a mistake. Nope. Ditto for onion rings from Dickey's Barbecue--I couldn't eat those either, due to the salt. (I don't know how regional these chains are).

By and large, we love living in the South, but there are distinct regional differences in food preparation.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I'm a tea drinker--iced or hot, depending on the time of day or time of year. I typically have tea sweetened with Splenda. We moved to NC from New England last year, and I tried sweet tea once. I couldn't choke it down. It was so sweet, it felt syrupy in my mouth. I'm sure it's an acquired taste. My family isn't interested in trying grits, pigs' feet, or chitlins, either. We do love the biscuits down here, though--gotta give a shout-out for those.

FTR, it also seems like stuff is super salty down here, as well. The first time we got fries from Bojangles, we thought there must have been a mistake. Nope. Ditto for onion rings from Dickey's Barbecue--I couldn't eat those either, due to the salt. (I don't know how regional these chains are).

By and large, we love living in the South, but there are distinct regional differences in food preparation.

I'm a California girl who now lives in Virginia. I didn't think I'd like grits until I tasted shrimp and grits. O. M. G. The butter, cheese and garlic with the grits and shrimp...mouth wateringly delicious! As for sweet tea - I HATE it. I love unsweetened brewed iced tea with lemon though. I drink a 24+ oz Tervis tumbler of it every single morning instead of coffee. My favorite brand is Luzianne...yummy!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Pigs Feet????
Chitlins????
Seriously....
OMG, neither have ever passed my lips, and I have lived here in the South since I was born, back in the olden days.
In fact, don't even know if I have ever seen anyone eat them, ever....

Grits are another one of those things that are absolutely wonderful when prepared correctly...
And, inedible if not.
Serve me up some good long-simmered high quality grits with real butter and plenty of salt.
Now THATS good!!!

 

[firecracker725]

I have never eaten them, but it's chitterlings, not chitlins.

 

[luvsJack]

Lol my ex in laws at chitlins. They stink and I can't even begin to imagine how they taste. Yuck! But the vast majority of southerns do not eat the nasty things.

I actually use Community tea bags--family size and make tea in a coffee maker (12 cup). Put two bags in the basket and half a pot of water. Water and sugar in the pitcher, add brewed tea and voila.

I love lemon in my tea but I just put a small slice in my glass.

The best restaurant tea in this area is Chick-fil-a or McAllister's. Both have sweet and unsweet.

 

[ronandannette]

I have never eaten them, but it's chitterlings, not chitlins.

Somehow the correct spelling actually makes them sound ever MORE disgusting, if that's even possible...