Sweet Tea (Savannah: buying, organic, live)

[Susan13202]

I lived in Savannah for the past year, until last January. If I say Sweet Tea, I'm sure many people who live there think, Carey Hilliard's. There is no carey Hilliard's where I am in Florida.
Does anyone either know what kind of tea they use or have a copycat recipe for it?
Or better yet, Carey, are you out there? Could you either share the recipe or start a chain in Florida? It's the best that I've had, but driving 8 hours for s gallon of Sweet Tea? How about selling it in Publix? We have Publix here.
I've tried several Sweet Tea recipes, but nothing even comes close.

[Padgett2]

I think it's the brand of tea used. Most places that have the most fantastic tea use Luzianne.

Four regular or two large tea bags to two quarts of hot water.

Let the water boil, turn the fire off and drop the bags in. Let steep five minutes. You will need 3/4 to 1 cup of sugar for the 2qts of water.

Good Luck!

[atlantagreg30127]

And for gawd's sake, don't try to be foofoo and put orange slices or limes or lemons in the pitcher if you make it yourself. Water, tea, real sugar. Poof - that's it.

I don't think Publix sells anything that doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup (even their own brand of tea). So don't look for the good stuff in premixed form there.

[Padgett2]

I should have mentioned that Lipton's and Tetley make the best HOT tea (my opinion only) but for iced tea, it seems to be Luzianne. Why? I have no idea.LOL

[daisiesnfreckles]

I ditto the Luzianne.

[Susan13202]

Thank you for the assistance. I'll be out tomorrow buying the Luzianne tea.

[Just Plain Al]

Sweet Tea

luzianne

[ellie]

I don't know. I'm not convinced that Luzianne is my favorite. Just finished drinking a huge glass of it and it is not as tasty as other brews I've had. I prefer a smokier, more fruity tasting black tea (not fruit flavored!). Luzianne can be a little bitter and lacks what I consider a real tea flavor. I think I like Lipton as much.

As for brand names, I'm as clueless as you are. Once I thought I'd found the perfect tea, something "rose". It was a store brand and oh so flavorful. But I haven't been able to find it again and test it to see.

Personally, I think there is a commercially available tea out there that places like Mrs. Wilkes uses - and Wendy's or Chic-fil-a fast food, for that matter. And I know it's not the amount of sugar, it's the tea.

[daisiesnfreckles]

I haven't tried any, but I suppose organic versions of tea would offer more for the tastebuds, as organic versions of other things (i.e. fruits and veggies) are generally more tasty. It's worth a try. I've been meaning to try a minty sweet tea...maybe I'll use an organic blend and see if I like the difference.

[ellie]

I've tried a couple of organic teas. They were good, but not exactly what I have in mind for perfect ice tea.

As far as minty tea, you could use a combination of black tea and spearmint teabags and see how that works.

I've had good luck making iced green tea with a little sugar. It's really good.