Sweet Tea it's never cold? (best, vanilla, seasoning, warm)

[GucciLittlePiggie]

um, it still just sounds like sweetened iced tea. sorry.

[TexasHorseLady]

Ah, but whatever it sounds like to you, the taste (and the effect) is remarkably different. I drank sweetened ice tea (as opposed to sweet tea) for years, decades, before I discovered real sweet tea and realized what I'd been missing. It's a whole 'nuther drink, probably having something to do with the sugar being dissolved in the simmering water before the tea is brewed.

Interestingly, I used to put a LOT more sugar in my tea to sweeten it before discovering this recipe. This tastes sweeter with less sugar per glass.

[Zoya]

Originally Posted by GucciLittlePiggie

sorry just a question, what's the big deal with "sweet tea?" it's just sweetened iced tea, right? they have that everywhere...

No, it's not just sweeted tea.

For real southern 'sweet tea' you actually are making a simple sryup (boiling the sugar with the water) before brewing the tea. It does effect the flavor (in a good way!).

[Debsi]

I make it with 3/4 c. sugar/gallon for my husband, and barely drink any of it because it's way too sweet.

1/4 c. to 1/2 c. is perfect for me. My favorite way is with Braum's iced tea bags, but right now I'm using lipton.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

Never boil the water to a rolling boil.

Never squeeze the teabags.

Always use Luzianne Tea. Lipton and other brands are bitter with a nasty bite.

What's so bad about Lipton? I was raised on Lipton, as well as Celestial Seasonings and Bigelow.

[Synopsis]

I like my tea straight up with no sugar. Sun tea is the best. The brand? I can't really tell a whole lot of difference between name brands. And as for mayonnaise, I've never heard of Duke's, but I suspect it's a lot like the mayonnaise my wife gets at the Japanese store; really good, but really really bad for you.

[nomoresnow]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

What's so bad about Lipton? I was raised on Lipton, as well as Celestial Seasonings and Bigelow.

I have to agree with wannaroo. I grew up on Lipton, but, at least for iced tea, the Luzianne is much better. Nowhere near the bitterness Lipton has. Give it a try - what can it hurt?

[moeowo]

I don't care for Lipton or Luzianne (but between the two I'd take Luzianne any day) I use Tetley Iced Tea blend.

There's a big difference in adding the sugar when the teas already cold vs when the teas hot. As someone else mentioned you will use less sugar and have it taste as sweet or sweeter when you add it to hot tea.

[Katsmeeyow]

Wow! I buy the generic store brand of the gallon size bags. I boil 5 tea bags and steep. In a 1 gallon pitcher, I pour in 1 and 1/4 cups sugar. I add a small amount of cold water and stir. When tea is good and strong, pour into pitcher and stir well. Add cold water slowly until full while stirring. Yum!

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by moeowo

I don't care for Lipton or Luzianne (but between the two I'd take Luzianne any day) I use Tetley Iced Tea blend.

There's a big difference in adding the sugar when the teas already cold vs when the teas hot. As someone else mentioned you will use less sugar and have it taste as sweet or sweeter when you add it to hot tea.

And it's even better (and different) when the sugar is added to the water and simmered (as someone said, making a light syrup) before brewing the tea at all.