In the South East, they bring you sweetened (usually far too sweetened for my tastes) iced tea. This is amazingly universal.
I live in NC and have been probing the border for years.
For “nicer” restaurants, the universal sweet tea boundary seems to be precisely at the NC/VA border.
If I asked for just “tea” at a restaurant here in the central valley of California, I would be asked what kind. The choices would be unsweetened ice, sweetened ice, or Lipton Raspberry Brisk (or a knock off brand I always forget the name of that’s becoming more common than the Lipton). The only restaurants I know of that Incan get hot tea are Chinese places, and they usually only have oolong tea.
I was at a BBQ/steakhouse in Red Bluff once and they acted like I had a third head when I asked for sweet tea. I understand you were south of there but whereabouts in California can I find sweet tea?
If you want it like actual Southern style, McDonald’s. Other places generally just have some sugar and lemon in the unsweetened tea and it’s never really enough to make me happy. I usually get the Lipton cuz I’m a fat fuck.
Some restaurants might even just bring you unsweetened and a bunch of sugar packets. I don’t think tea is very popular here :(
That’s good to know. I usually have to cut McDonald’s sweet tea with water, and I’d rather not support them anyway, but next time I’m on the left coast I know where to get my fix. Thanks, Kolanaki!
