The East Tennessee sweet-tea tradition: black tea brewed strong and sweetened with a syrup of dissolved sugar while still hot, served over ice with a lemon.

Sweet tea is the Southern standard non-alcoholic table drink, served at every East Tennessee diner counter and meat-and-three room. Pete's Coffee Shop on Union pours it from a 2-gallon dispenser into Mason jars; Buddy's Bar-B-Q runs a similar service. The sweet tea here is sweeter than Nashville or Memphis versions.

3 editor picks for Sweet Tea in Knoxville, ranked by editorial score. All Knoxville signature dishes · Sweet Tea across every city.