Sweet tea is a type of iced tea which is sweetened while it is brewing, rather than after it is iced. It is heavily associated with the American South, although other cultures around the world make variants on sweet tea. Some people find sweet tea too much to handle, since the traditional level of sweetener is very high. Others, especially in the South, cannot imagine life without sweet tea, and the beverage is ubiquitous at picnics and restaurants all over 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 dissolves the sugar entirely so that it will form a suspension in the water, rather than settling to the bottom. The sweetness of the sugar tempers the tannins in the tea, yielding a beverage which is more sweet than bitter. Once the sugar has been blended, the tea is chilled in preparation for serving, when it may be offered with garnishes like lemon and mint.
Different cooks add the water at different stages of brewing. Some, for example, like to steep the tea with the sugar, while others pull the tea bags out before adding sugar. In all cases, it is an excellent idea to taste sweet tea while it brews, so that the right level of sweetness is obtained. In the Southern United States, sweet tea can be almost painfully sweet, while more mild 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 enjoy making 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 weather beverage can be a great replacement 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 fraction to make. Some cooks deliberately brew the tea very strong, so that they can dilute it at the time of serving with cold water or ice.