As Long as It’s Sweet and It’s Got Ice, I’m Good
Growing up in the desert, iced tea was a staple of summer. And of course, it’s got to be Sun Tea - brewed in the sunshine. Why waste any other kind of energy brewing it when you can harness the sun? I still make Sun Tea and drink it all summer long (thank goodness for decaf tea bags). And I’ve always added sugar or some kind of sweetener to my glass before I drink it.
Today, I read a blog post that mentioned “Sweet Tea”, and I googled it because although I’ve heard of it, I never really knew what the difference was between Sweet Tea and Iced Tea. I guess, after reading, that the difference is that you add sugar (or some sort of sweetener) before or after brewing but before it’s chilled and served. I don’t quite do that since I just add it when I pour it, but the really shocking thing for me was learning that some people (who don’t live in the South part of the country or grew up with people who were raised in or by people from the South) actually do not add sweetener to their tea at ALL! Now I know this is common when you drink hot tea, but no sugar in iced tea? I can’t imagine!
So I’m wondering…how do YOU drink your iced tea? Sweetened or not? And how do you brew it? Inside or outside?
Comment by Marlene
May 31, 2008 @ 5:24 pm
Never never never add sugar! EWWWW!!! I hate sweetened iced tea. It makes me gag. And I drink iced tea all the time, brewed indoors or out.
Comment by rochelle!
May 31, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
I only drink the fake Arizona Raspberry Tea or Arnold Palmers.
Comment by jen
June 1, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
I have an iced tea maker and use it all summer and into the fall. I sweeten lightly, just enough sugar to cut the sharp taste of the tea. Southern Sweet Tea is just too sweet for me. I never make sun tea; I’m too impatient. ;)