Sweet Tea - Wikipedia

Style of iced tea For other uses, see Sweet Tea (disambiguation).

Sweet tea, also known as sweet iced tea, is a popular style of iced tea commonly consumed in the United States[1][2] (especially the South) and Indonesia.[3][4] Sweet tea is most commonly made by adding sugar or simple syrup to black tea while the tea is either brewing or still hot, although artificial sweeteners are also frequently used. Sweet tea is almost always served ice cold. It may sometimes be flavored, most commonly with lemon[1] but also with peach, raspberry, or mint.[5] The drink is sometimes tempered with baking soda to reduce its acidity.[5] Although sweet tea may be brewed with a lower sugar and calorie content than most fruit juices and sodas, it is not unusual to find sweet tea with a sugar level as high as 22 degrees Brix, or 22 g per 100 g of liquid, a level twice that of Coca-Cola.[1][6][7][8][9]

Sweet tea is regarded as an important regional staple in the cuisine of the Southern United States and Indonesia.[10] The availability of sweet tea in restaurants and other establishments is popularly used as an indicator to gauge whether an area can be considered part of the South.[11][12][13]

History

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United States

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Sweet tea began as an item of luxury due to the expensive nature of its basic ingredients: tea, ice, and sugar.[1][2] Ice was possibly the most valued of the ingredients since it had to be shipped from afar at a time when access to cool drinking water was already a relative luxury. In modern times, sweet tea can be made in large quantities quickly and inexpensively.[2]

The oldest known recipe for sweet tea was published in a community cookbook called Housekeeping in Old Virginia (copyright 1878) by Marion Cabell Tyree.[1] The recipe called for green tea, since most sweet tea consumed during this period was green tea.[1][2] However, during World War II, the major sources of green tea were cut off from the United States due to the Japanese invasion and occupation of green tea–producing regions. As an alternative, green tea was replaced with black tea from British India. By the end of World War II, black tea had become the tea most drunk by Americans.[14]

In 2003, supposedly as an April Fool's joke, the Georgia State House of Representatives introduced a bill making it a "...misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature" to sell iced tea in a restaurant that did not also offer sweet iced tea on the menu.[6] The bill never went to a vote.[15]

Indonesia

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Tea drinking in Indonesia began during the Dutch colonial rule. In the 17th century, the Dutch brought tea plants to Batavia via Sukabumi Beach. Tea plants were subsequently planted in Indonesia which were suitable to West Java. At the same time, in Central Java, sugar cane cultivation was successfully introduced. The ready availability of the two ingredients led to development of sweet tea, which remains the most popular beverage in the country.[16]

Records

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2010

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The first recorded record regarding sweet tea was held by Chick-Fil-A. The corporation created the largest cup of sweet tea with 912 gallons of tea[17].

2015

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The small town of Summerville, South Carolina took over the record for largest sweet tea at 1,452 gallons.

Months later, the company Lipton took over this record with a whopping 2,204 gallons of sweet tea. [18]

2016

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On National Tea Day, Summerville took back the record, making and containing 2,524 gallons of sweet tea[19].

See also

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• Amacha (lit. 'sweet tea'), a Japanese drink
• Tortuga (cocktail)

References

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1. ^ a b c d e f Glock, Allison (2008-07-01), Sweet Tea: A Love Story, Garden & Gun
2. ^ a b c d Tomlinson, Tommy (August 2010), "Sweet Tea", Our State North Carolina
3. ^ "Indonesians grow sweet on sugarless tea". Nikkei Asian Review. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
4. ^ "Enjoy these cheap eats on your mudik through Java". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
5. ^ a b Kinsman, Kat (2007-06-28), "Southern Sweet Tea", SlashFood, AOL
6. ^ a b Klineman, Jeffrey (2007-08-08), "I Wish I Lived in a Land of Lipton … What makes Southern sweet tea so special?", Slate, The Slate Group
7. ^ "Nutritional information for McDonald's large (32oz) sweet tea". Live Strong. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
8. ^ "Nutritional information for McDonald's large (32oz) Coca-Cola". Live Strong. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
9. ^ "Nutritional information for McDonald's large (21oz) orange juice". Live Strong. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
10. ^ Powers, Sean. "Sweet Tea: A History Of The 'Nectar Of The South'". Retrieved 2018-07-07.
11. ^ Jacobs, Frank. "The Sweet Tea Line: The Real Border Between North and South". Big Think. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
12. ^ "The Science of Sweet Tea: The Science of the South". www.scienceofthesouth.com. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
13. ^ "The Sweet Tea Line". Texas Monthly. 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2018-07-07.
14. ^ "History of Iced Tea, History of Sweet Tea". Whatscookingamerica.net. Retrieved 2012-05-07.
15. ^ HB 819 – Food service establishments; serving tea; requirements
16. ^ "Asal-usul Es Teh Manis Jadi Minuman Sejuta Umat di Indonesia".
17. ^ "Small US town reclaims record for largest iced tea". Guinness World Records. 2016-07-07. Archived from the original on 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
18. ^ "Small US town reclaims record for largest iced tea". Guinness World Records. 2016-07-07. Archived from the original on 2023-12-31. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
19. ^ "Summerville Reclaimed the Iced Tea Record". discoversouthcarolina.com. Archived from the original on 2025-08-15. Retrieved 2025-12-08.

Bibliography

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• History of Iced Tea and Sweet Tea
• Housekeeping in Old Virginia by Marion Cabell Tyree. ISBN 1-4101-0508-3
• A Slate article on sweet tea

v t e Tea (Camellia sinensis)
History
Common varieties	Black tea Assam Bohea Ceylon Congou Darjeeling Dianhong Golden Monkey Kangra Keemun Nilgiri Sikkim Tibeti Rize Yingdehong Oolong tea Ban Tian Yao Baozhong Dong ding Dongfang meiren Fo Shou Gaoshan Huangjin Gui Jin Xuan Ruan zhi Tieguanyin Wuyi Bai Jiguan Bu Zhi Chun Da Hong Pao Jin Jun Mei Lapsang souchong Qilan Huang Meigui Rougui Shui Jin Gui Iron Luohan Shui Xian Green tea Anji bai cha Aracha Baimao Hou Bancha Biluochun Chun Mee Dafang Genmaicha Lu'an Melon Seed Gunpowder Gyokuro Hōjicha Taiping houkui Huangshan Maofeng Hyson Kabusecha Kamairicha Konacha Kukicha Longjing Matcha Maojian Mecha Mengding Ganlu Sencha Shincha Tamaryokucha White tea White Peony Silver Needle Shoumei Yellow tea Junshan Yinzhen Huoshan Huangya Fermented tea Pu-erh Doncha Lahpet Kombucha Blended or flavoured teas Earl Grey (Lady Grey) Breakfast tea (English, Irish) Jasmine tea Masala chai Maghrebi mint tea Prince of Wales Russian Caravan Strobilanthes tonkinensis
General	Australian Arabic British Ceylon Chinese Korean Nepali New Zealand Taiwanese Turkish Vietnamese
Culture	Customs Afternoon/High tea/Evening meal Tea party Tasseography East Asian tea ceremony Chinese Yum cha Japanese Korean Taiwanese Ryukyuan Areas Tea garden Teahouse or tearoom Cha chaan teng Chashitsu Mizuya Sukiya-zukuri Roji By country American Argentine Azerbaijani Brazilian Chinese Dominican Hong Kong Indian Japanese Mexican Pakistani Russian Senegalese Taiwanese
History	China India Japan
Production and distribution	Leaf grading Processing Decaffeination Tasting Cultivation Diseases Companies Consumption by country Auctions London Chittagong Guwahati By country Bangladesh Indonesia Kenya Rwanda Sri Lanka United States
Preparation	Flowering teas Infusion Compressed tea Decoction ISO procedure Steeping Tea bag Tea lady
Health	Health effects Phenolic content Compounds Caffeine Theanine Flavan-3-ol Catechin Epigallocatechin gallate Theaflavin
Tea-based drinks	Bubble tea Builder's tea Burmese milk tea Butter tea Cheese tea Chifir Doodh pati chai Hong Kong–style milk tea Iced tea Arnold Palmer Jagertee Kahwah Lei cha Milk tea Noon chai Seven-color tea Shahi haleeb Suutei tsai Sweet tea Teh tarik Thai tea Yuenyeung
See also	Teaware Chest Caddy Chawan Infuser Strainer Teacup Teapot Gaiwan Tea set Literature Tea classics Coffee List of Chinese teas Teas of related species Camellia japonica Camellia sasanqua Camellia taliensis Tea research Lipton Institute of Tea Tea Research and Extension Station Herbal tea Cannabis tea Chamomile Dried lime Ginger Guayusa Koththamalli Kuding Mate Rooibos
Category

v t e Indonesian cuisine
Dishes	CommonIndonesiandishes Abon Acar Ayam bakar Ayam goreng Ayam kecap Ayam kodok Bakmi Bakpau Bakso Bakwan Bihun goreng Bubur ayam Bubur kacang hijau Bubur ketan hitam Bubur sumsum Gado-gado Gorengan Gulai Ikan asin Ikan bakar Ikan goreng Jagung rebus Kacang rebus Kari Kari ayam Kari domba Kari kambing Kari udang Kuaci Ketupat Laksa Lontong Macaroni schotel Martabak Mi bakso Mi goreng Mi kuah Nasi campur Nasi goreng Nasi kari Nasi kuning Nasi bakar Otak-otak Panekuk Pastel tutup Perkedel Perkedel jagung Pindang Rendang Rijsttafel Roti bakar Roti bolen Roti meses Rujak Sambal Sambal goreng udang Satay Sayur bayam Sayur sop Semur Serundeng Sop buntut Soto Soto ayam Soto mi Sup ayam Sup ercis Sup makaroni Sup wortel Tahu Tahu goreng Telur asin Telur pindang Tempeh Tumis kangkung Tumpeng Acehnese Ayam Tangkap Bhoi Kanji asyura Keukarah Keumamah Meuseukat Mi aceh Mi caluk Nasi gurih Roti Jala Sate matang Sie Reuboh Arab Asida Fahsa Falafel Hummus Kofta Manakish Katayef Nasi kabsah Nasi kebuli Nasi mandi Maamoul Marak Murtabak Roti maryam Roti pita Saltah Shawarma Tabbouleh Tharid Balinese Babi guling Betutu Be urutan Iga babi Laklak Lawar Matah Nasi bali Nasi jinggo Pai susu Rawon babi Rujak kuah pindang Sate babi Sate lilit Soto babi Tipat cantok Banjarese Bingka Laksa banjar Pekasam Soto banjar Bantenese Angeun Lada Batak Arsik Babi panggang Karo Dali ni horbo Dengke mas na niura Itak gurgur Lampet Manuk napinadar Mi gomak Na tinombur Ombusombus Pagit-pagit Pohulpohul Saksang Sasagun Sate kerang Tipatipa Tuktuk Betawi Asinan betawi Bubur cha cha Kerak telor Ketoprak Ketupat sayur Laksa betawi Lontong sayur Mi kangkung Nasi goreng kambing Nasi kebuli Nasi uduk Nasi ulam Pindang Roti buaya Roti gambang Rujak juhi Sate taichan Sayur asem Semur jengkol Soto betawi Soto kaki Soto tangkar Sup kambing Buginese andMakassar Ayam goreng Sulawesi Burasa Coto makassar Dangke Jalangkote Kaledo Kapurung Konro Mi kering Pallubasa Sop saudara Chinese Babi hong Babi kecap Bak kut teh Bakkwa Bakwan Banmian Bihun goreng Cakwe Cap cai Chai tow kway Char kway teow Cha sio Fu yung hai Fish ball Haisom cah Ifumi Kembang tahu Kepiting saus tiram Kuaci Kwetiau ayam Kwetiau goreng Kwetiau siram sapi Lapchiong Locupan Lontong cap go meh Lumpia Mi ayam Mi lor Mi pangsit Mi tarik Mun tahu Nasi ayam hainan Nasi bebek Nasi campur Nasi tim Ngo hiang Pangsit Popiah Rujak shanghai Sapo tahu Sate babi Sekba Siomay Soto Sup hisit Sup sarang burung Swikee Tahu sumedang Tauge ayam Tee long pan Telur pitan Telur teh Tong sui Yong tau fu Yusheng Cirebonese Empal gentong Docang Kue gapit Mi koclok Nasi jamblang Nasi lengko Tahu gejrot Gorontalese Binte biluhuta Sate Tuna Ayam iloni Sagela Ilahe Bilentango Sate Balanga Ilabulo Nasi kuning cakalang Buburu Bubur sagela Nasi goreng sagela Tabu Moitomo Ikan iloni Pilitode Indian Appam Ayam mentega Ayam tandori Chapati Chutney Dosa Idli Laddu Kari kambing Kari kepala ikan Korma Modak Naan Nasi biryani Pakora Puttu Raita Roti canai Satti Sorru Sambar Samosa Satti Sorru Indo Ayam kodok Babi panggang Bitterballen Erwtensoep Hutspot Lapis legit Makaroni schotel Oliebol Ontbijtkoek Pannenkoek Poffertjes Shepherd's pie Javanese Apem Arem-arem Ayam bumbu rujak Ayam geprek Ayam goreng kalasan Ayam penyet Bakso Bakpia Bakpia pathok Botok Brongkos Buntil Gudeg Iga penyet Kamir Kelan antep Krechek Kuluban Lepet Lontong balap Lontong dekem Lontong kupang Lumpia Lumpia goreng Lumpia semarang Sumpia Mendoan Mi bakso Mi goreng Mi jawa Mi rebus Nasi ambeng Nasi bebek Nasi bogana Nasi empal Nasi gandul Nasi goreng Nasi goreng jawa Nasi kare Nasi kucing Nasi liwet Nasi megono Nasi pecel Nasi tempong Opor Opor ayam Orem-orem Pecel Pecel ayam Pecel lele Rambak petis Rawon Roti ganjel rel Roti konde Rujak cingur Rujak soto Sambal ulek Sate ambal Sate blora Sate kambing Sate hati Sate kelinci Sate kikil Sate klatak Sate madura Sate ponorogo Sate tegal Sate udang Sayur lodeh Selat solo Serundeng Soto babat Soto ceker Tahu campur Telur pindang Tempe bacem Tempe goreng Tempe mendoan Timlo Tongseng Trancam Tumpeng Urap Madurese Rujak Rujak cingur Sate madura Serundeng Soto madura Malay Amplang Ayam goreng Ayam pansuh Bubur cha cha Bubur pedas Cincalok Epok-epok Gulai Ikan bakar Ikan patin Kangkung belacan Kari Kemplang Laksa Mi kari Mi rebus Nasi berlauk Nasi briyani Nasi dagang Nasi goreng Nasi goreng pattaya Nasi lemak Nasi minyak Otak-otak Pekasam Pulut Roti canai Roti jala Roti john Roti tisu Sayur lodeh Siput gonggong Soto Sup kambing Tahu goreng Tempoyak Ulam Minahasan Ayam rica-rica Brenebon Cakalang fufu Dabu-dabu Klappertaart Mi cakalang Nasi kuning Panada Paniki Rica-rica Rintek wuuk Tinorangsak Tinutuan Woku Minangkabau Asam pedas Ayam pop Balado Daun ubi tumbuk Dendeng Gulai Gulai ayam Gulai kambing Gulai otak Kalio Kepiting saus padang Keripik sanjai Lemang Lontong gulai pakis Nasi kapau Nasi kari Nasi padang Palai bada Rendang Sambal lada muda Sate padang Soto padang Udang balado Moluccanand Papuan Asida Babi bakar Bibingka Colo-colo Papeda Puding sagu Sagu Soto ambon Palembang Burgo Gulai Kemplang Laksan Lakso Malbi Mi celor Nasi minyak Otak-otak Pempek Pindang Tekwan Tempoyak ikan patin Peranakan Bubur cha cha Cincalok Laksa Pai ti Swikee Sasak Ayam taliwang Plecing kangkung Sate ampet Sate belut Sate pusut Sundanese Asinan bogor Batagor Empal gepuk Karedok Kupat tahu Laksa bogor Laksa tangerang Lalab Mi kocok Nasi timbel Nasi tutug oncom Oncom Pepes Rujak tumbuk Sate bandeng Sate maranggi Sayur asem Seblak Soto bandung Tauge goreng Uli bakar Timorese Feijoada Ikan bakar Katemak Pastel de nata Se'i
Snacks	Krupuk Amplang Emping Kemplang Krupuk Krupuk ikan Krupuk kulit Krupuk udang Kripik Kripik sanjai Rempeyek Rengginang Kue Agar-agar Apam Ape Arem-arem Asida Bagea Bahulu Bakcang Bakpau Bakpia Bakpia pathok Bangkit Bibingka Bika ambon Bingka Bitterballen Bolen Bolu gulung Bolu kukus Bolu pandan Bugis Meuseukat Bulan Busa Cakwe Cilok Clorot Cubit Cucur Dadar gulung Dodol Donat jawa Donat kentang Gapit Geplak Gethuk Jalangkote Jemput-jemput Kaak Kaasstengels Kamir Karipap Kembang goyang Keranjang Klappertaart Klepon Kochi Kroket Ku Kukis jagung Laddu Laklak Lapis Lapis legit Leker Lemper Lidah kucing Lumpia Lumpia goreng Lumpia semarang Sumpia Lupis Madumongso Makmur Martabak Mangkok Mochi Modak Nagasari Nastar Ombusombus Onde-onde Pai susu Pai ti Panada Pancong Pastel Pastel de nata Pinyaram Pisang cokelat Pisang goreng Poffertjes Popiah Pukis Putri salju Putu Putu mangkok Putu mayang Rangi Rempah udang Risoles Samosa Satu Semar mendem Semprit Semprong Serabi Seri muka Sus Spekulaas Stroopwafel Talam Tapai Timphan Terang bulan Untir-untir Wajik Wingko
Beverages	Alcoholic Arak Beer Brem Cap tikus Ciu Lapen Saguer Sopi Tuak Non-alcoholic Adon-adon coro Angsle Bajigur Bandrek Bir jawa Bir kocok Bir pletok Cendol Chocolate milk Cincau Dadiah Es asam jawa Es buah Es campur Es doger Es durian Es goyobod Es kelapa muda Es kopyor Es selendang mayang Es tebak Es tebu Es teler Hot chocolate Jahe telur Jamu Java coffee Kembang tahu Kopi aceh Kopi gayo Kopi luwak Kopi sanger Kopi susu Kopi tarik Kopi tiam Kopi tubruk Lahang Laksamana mengamuk Legen Milo Moke Ronde Sarsi Badak Indo saparelle Sekoteng Soda gembira Susu kedelai Sweet tea Teh botol Teh krisan Teh liang Teh poci Teh jahe Teh tarik Teh talua Wedang jahe Wedang uwuh
Bumbu	Spices Adas manis Andaliman Asam jawa Bawang bombai Bawang merah Bawang perei Bawang putih Bunga lawang Bunga pala Cabai rawit Cabai merah Cengkih Daun bawang Daun jeruk Daun kari Daun kemangi Daun pandan Daun salam Jahe Jeruk purut Jeruk nipis Jintan Kapulaga Kayu manis Kecombrang Kencur Kemiri Ketumbar Keluak Kunyit Lengkuas Lada hitam Lada putih Lokio Pala Peterseli Seledri Serai Temu kunci Temu lawak Seasoningsand condiments Abon Acar Balado Bawang goreng Budu Coconut jam Cuka Dabu-dabu Hagelslag Kecap asin Kecap ikan Kecap inggris Kecap manis Kerisik Lalab Mayones Minyak samin Minyak wijen Minyak zaitun Moster Muisjes Nata de coco Peanut sauce Petis Petis ikan Rica-rica Sambal Sambal goreng teri Serundeng Saus tiram Saus tomat Tapai Tauco Tempoyak Terasi Tongcai Tuktuk Vlokken
Influences andoverseas dishes	Achat Asam pedas Ayam penyet Babi pangang Bami Bamischijf Begedil Biryani Bobotie Bobotok Boeber Dendeng Kalu dodol Koe'sister Lumpia Martabak Mie bangladesh Mie goreng Mie rebus Nasi ambeng Nasi goreng Nasi kuning Nasischijf Pechal Pisang goreng Rawon Rendang Rojak Roti canai Satay Sayur lodeh Serundeng Sosatie Soto Telur pindang Tempeh Tomato bredie
List articles	Indonesian beverages Indonesian condiments Indonesian desserts Indonesian dishes Indonesian noodles Indonesian snacks Indonesian soups
Relatedtopics	List of Indonesian dishes Alcohol in Indonesia Jamu Bumbu (seasoning) Street food of Indonesia Jajan pasar Sri Owen Nunuk Nuraini
Category: Indonesian cuisine