History
Sweet tea entered Southern cooking in the late 19th century when refined sugar and refrigerated ice became affordable through the Southern railway expansion. By the 1920s it was the table drink across Carolina households, served at every meal except breakfast, and remains the unmarked default ordering 'tea' across Charlotte to this day. The pour comes pre-sweetened with two cups of sugar per gallon at most Carolina restaurants.
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Make it at home
Ingredients
- 1 litre boiling water
- 8 standard black tea bags or 4 family-size tea bags
- 200g granulated sugar (adjust to taste, 150g to 250g range)
- 1 litre cold water
- Ice for serving
Method
- Bring 1 litre of water to a boil. Remove from heat.
- Add the tea bags and steep 5 minutes. Remove the bags.
- Pour the sugar into the hot tea while still warm. Stir until completely dissolved.
- Add 1 litre of cold water. Stir and refrigerate at least 20 minutes.
- Pour over ice and serve. Garnish with lemon if desired.
Tip from the editors. The sugar must dissolve in the hot tea. Adding sugar to cold tea makes a grainy sip that locals will catch immediately.
Where to eat sweet tea
Sweet Tea in Charlotte
Mert's Heart and Soul ★ 4.3
Mert's Heart and Soul on N College Street is the uptown soul-food room with a fried-chicken-and-sides lunch plate around $14, the budget anchor of the uptown.
TryFried chicken plate with two sides
TipThe two-side combo is the best value. Weekday lunch is the easiest seat.
300 East ★ 4.3
300 East on East Boulevard is the family-run Dilworth American institution serving comfort plates and weekend brunch to the neighbourhood since 1986.
OrderThe crab-cake sandwich at lunch and the house burger at dinner.
TipSunday brunch is the seat to land. Book on OpenTable for weekend morning slots.
Sweet Lew's BBQ ★ 4.5
Sweet Lew's BBQ in Belmont is Lewis Donald's wood-smoked Carolina BBQ counter, smoking whole pork shoulders, brisket and house sausages on a quiet street.
Why locals goA counter-service BBQ room on a quiet Belmont street, easy to drive past unless you're looking for it.
TipGet there before noon. The meats sell through by mid-afternoon.
Sweet Tea in Greenville
OJ's Diner ★ 4.8
OJ's Diner in Greenville: Black-owned Pendleton soul food counter, cash preferred and weekdays only. Locals know; tourists routinely miss it.
Why locals goBlack-owned Pendleton soul food counter, cash preferred and weekdays only. Locals know; tourists routinely miss it.
TipGet there before 13:00 on weekdays. The fried chicken sells out by 14:00 most days.
Henry's Smokehouse ★ 4.2
Henry's runs counter-service barbecue on Wade Hampton: chopped pork sandwich and a side under fifteen dollars, four South Carolina sauces on the table.
TryChopped pork sandwich and a side under fifteen dollars
Stax Omega Diner ★ 4.0
Stax Omega Diner is off-downtown greek diner since 1988. family-run, bakery case at the back, regulars take up the same booths every morning.
Why locals goOff-downtown Greek diner since 1988. Family-run, bakery case at the back, regulars take up the same booths every morning.
TipSit at the counter. Order the gyro plate plus a slice of baklava from the bakery case.
Sweet Tea in Knoxville
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop ★ 4.6
Pete's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Union Avenue, the downtown diner since 1986, runs breakfast counter service voted Best Breakfast in Knoxville seven.
OrderCountry ham and eggs with grits
TipCloses 14:00 daily; weekend lines form before 09:00 and weekdays move faster.
Buddy's Bar-B-Q ★ 4.3
Buddy's Bar-B-Q on Kingston Pike, the original flagship since 1972, runs a $9-13 pulled pork plate with two sides as Knoxville's most reliable East TN BBQ.
TryPulled pork plate with two sides
TipThe pulled pork plate with cole slaw and beans clocks under $13; counter ordering moves fast.
Litton's Market and Restaurant ★ 4.7
Littons Market on Essary Drive is the 1946 Fountain City burger counter that anchors North Knoxvilles hometown dining without leaving its residential setting.
Why locals goThe Fountain City burger counter since 1946 has anchored North Knoxville's hometown dining without ever leaving its residential setting.
TipCash and card both work; the bakery case sells out by mid-afternoon. Closed Sundays.
Sweet Tea in Savannah
Sisters of the New South ★ 4.7
Sisters of the New South is a soul food restaurant at 2605 Skidaway Rd in Savannah.
More cities are in research. Want sweet tea covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.