I had never heard of sweet tea before I moved to South Carolina.
Sweet Tea
Yields 2 quarts
6 individual tea bags
2 quarts filtered cool water
Pinch of baking soda
For the sugar syrup:
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
Fresh lemon
Fresh mint, if desired
Boil 2 quarts of cool filtered water, bringing it just to a boil, then turn it off.
Steep tea bags in this hot water for as long as you can – several hours is good. Gently squeeze bags of excess water and remove.
Add a pinch of baking soda to keep it from turning cloudy. Next add lemon, or ginger or mint.
For the sugar water:
Bring the cup of sugar and the cup of water just to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool.
Add this to the hot tea. Once cooled down, add to a lovely pitcher and stir. Pour into ice-filled glasses