I would like to reply. Pardon me if I seem a little ignorant, however, I have not been on a "blog" before. If I sound a little off, please, don't be hatin'. I myself like tea. I like hot tea, raspberry tea, strawberry tea, apple cinnamon tea, and iced tea, shaken not stirred. When it comes to iced tea it only seems sensable that regular tea would be the norm. Like Mustang 23 said, you can always add a little sugar, or a lot depending upon who you are. Anyway, that's my comment and I'm sticken to it. Yo! It's all good!
I have come to love sweet tea...these last 10 years in the south. Believe it or not...that's one of those little things I'm really gonna miss when I move. Well, that and Waffle House. 
I'm convinced that folks Doun' South(tm) make "sweet" tea in sixty to ninty gallon batches. When you get served the dregs about three weeks later the brew has morphed into something else.
Remember NASCAR got started by people hauling a somewhat similiar home brew.
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When I was in school (company) in Flordia, we went to Georgia often. At this one small cafe we always ate at on the main highway (don't remember the highway number, but the interstate) we watched them make tea, the large container was still about half full when she filled it back up. I asked her why she was filling it up now. She replied that they NEVER let it get more than half empty.
Several thoughts went through my mind, one being that maybe they were afraid of letting too much air get in the container, another was that they might have an unexpected tea supply truck break down and another that that was why the tea was so strong.
Love that part of our great Nation.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
My first trip to Hotlanta...and I end up in a raid - through NO fault of my own..and end being hauled off to to the main police station...along with six lovely "ladies" Tiffany, Amber, Jewel, Ruby, Sierra, and Tawnie...
I should have suspected something was up when I went to check into the the "Downtown Motor Hotel", asked what the room rate was and was told, "$5.00 per hour" ...not to mention that the ONLY cars in the parking lot were cadilacs...big colourful cadilacs!
Never one to to miss any opportunity, as I sat in a holding cell with the above mentioned ladies, I asked for "tips"...and I don't mean stock market tips
Mustang 23, we do the sweet tea thing in Mississippi as well. And yes, I do actually prefer sweet to unsweet. At the lunch spots around these parts, we order the drink as sweet or unsweet.
Now, about the lemon thing. I personally don't like lemon in my tea, because it adds too much citrus to something that is already made from orange rinds. This brings me to my convaluted point.
At a seminar in Scottsdale, I was seated with a couple from Pennsyvania that absolutely threw a hissy fit because they did not want orange pekoe tea. The wife was aghast that someone would actually use orange in tea. I politely pointed out that the overwhelming majority of tea in the US was made with orange rind and black pekoe tea and she said she had NEVER, NEVER heard of that. Long story, long, she absolutely would not recognize that was what Lipton's, Nestee, etal was.
Strange people from up North. Oh, and basil's right, all Waffle House joints are like that. Just drink the coffee, it's okay.
And "regular" tea in the South is sweet, the Southern sissy-boys drink it the other way.
Sweet Tea is a true southern item! Being a Southern Girl myself, I must say the way you felt while in the south is the way I feel everywhere else but the south! I have to search out a Cracker Barrel just to get sweet tea. Those used to drinking unsweetened tea just cannot understand that putting sugar or sweetener into tea after it is already made does not equal "sweet tea."
Love the blogs as always and continued thanks for your service!
I'm just curious if a thing called the Atkins diet doesn't exsist in the south? I'm not on it and I know I could never do it but you South people are so proud of that sweet tea do you EVER think you could give that up if you wanted to lose weight? BTW I like to taste tea not only sugar. Whats the point of tea if all you taste is sugar water. ICK. I'll never like sweet tea. My dad who is Mustang's dad also said I used to only wave the tablespoon of sugar over my tea but never actually put any in it. If you are living in the south how can tea quinch your thirst I would be even more thirsty after it. EWW. Anyway thats enough. No offense meant through this just my opinion. If any southerners are attempting the Atkins diet GOOD LUCK I don't think you guys could live w/o your sweet tea. HEHE
Well, to answer the question, not too many MEN in the South ever go on diets, just another way to know that you are a sissy-boy around these parts, kinda like not wearing a Stetson. And I couldn't even begin to tell you what the Adkins diet is. I ain't never ate an Adkins. Is that one of those fruits from some other country like a kiwi or sumpin?
ROTFLMAO, this one almost had me repeating the spitting action, your story is like de ja vu 
I was born in Chicago, grew up in Las Vegas and summered in Texas. Then I made my first trip to SC in 1998.
I've always added a little bit of sugar to tea and the standard question I grew up asking was "Is your iced tea brewed or instant?". That first morning in SC the kids and I had breakfast in the Denny's attached to the hotel. I had the exact same experience you did.
Well we moved here in 1999 and have been in SC since and I've still not adjusted to "all things Southern"
The other striking difference I noticed immediatly, hardly anyone has fences around thier property. Back home, 6-8 foot cinder block walls are the norm, not the exception. Here, trying to find even a decorative fence is the exception.
Thanks for the laugh
Take care,
Angel
I agree Angel. The thing I don't like about the south is that you get a rude look from people when you ask for unsweetened tea. If they even have such a thing in their restuarant.
Ahhhh, the South! Nothing else like it in the world (that I have found.) Geesh Mustang 23, it is about time you posted something worth talking about.
As a quick disclaimer - I was not born nor really raised in the South. My formative years were North of the Mason-Dixon line. I will say though, that I am thankful for the time I have spent down here, the people I have met, and a way of life I have begun to embrace.
So back to Mustang’s post. Yes, when you order iced tea in these parts, expect it to already be sweetened. That is just a given. Also, one can get iced tea here year round. Some parts of the North start trying to stop serving ice tea in the winter, and only sell hot tea. I have a friend from GA who will drink iced tea when there is snow on the ground, because that is the way he thinks tea should be consumed.
Next time any of y'all are in the area and want a real treat, try the fruit tea. It isn't at all like the drink that comes in a bottle (e.g. Nestea with Raspberry); it is more like fruit juice that has a touch of tea added to it.
What else to say? Down here, "South" is a two-syllable word. Our buildings are adorned with columns (because we sleep on our "pillars"). Grits are a staple - and it is blasphemous to call cream of wheat "grits". No, they aren’t the same. (And no putting syrup on grits - you'll get really weird looks)
The South has a stronger sense of regional pride that I think the rest of our nation lacks. Moreover, when thinking about the different parts of the United States, what comes to mind? Perhaps for the Northeast - clam chowder, Midwest - cornfields, the West - cowboys, the West Coast - surfing. When thinking about the South one often times thinks of an entirely different way of life. Southern hospitality is a well-known phrase for a reason. (As is good old Southern cooking - Yum!)
But then, I am merely ranting. I am sure everyone could defend their home state, region, and country with pride. I just thought I would chip in with my thoughts.
Oh, and who doesn't love a Waffle House or Cracker Barrel? They are located every other exit on the interstates for a reason!
Frankly I feel like I'm gonna throw up every time I go or enter into a Waffle House, same thing with Boston Market YUKKKKKKIE! But Cracker Barrel on the other hand is MMM MMM Good!
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