Credits: Social Media
Brits confused after watching Southerner make sweet tea the right way
Despite being known as the tea capital of the world, some of the UK has taken issue with the south’s iconic sweet tea, with some dubbing it “simply syrup.”
Anyone who wants you to believe the UK and the US are the same hasn’t spent any time on the internet. In the hallowed halls of TikTok and Instagram, Brits are debating serious topics with their US counterparts like the stark difference in festival cultures. The subject also works vice-versa, with one American recently trying a Greggs for the first time.
How to make Southern sweet tea the ‘right’ way
Unlike British tea, which is usually just teabag and hot water, Southern sweet tea combines sugar, tea, water, and various other interesting accompaniments.
It was originally a beverage of luxury and made with green tea, though that changed when supply was cut off during World War 2. As such, Southern States adopted black tea as an updated base.
Though recipes tend to differ between families, towns, and backgrounds, the “right way” was recently shared by TikTok content creator Ash (@ashlynfullerrr). It has since accumulated 15 million views.
Using a two-gallon jug, Ash filled it up halfway with 1 gallon of sugar, roughly 16 cups. Shockingly, the southerner only used three iced teabags alongside her gallon of sugar, which many people picked up on in the comments.
“If more than half of your tea ain’t sugar, you’re not doing it right,” she argued.
Though some recipes call for syrup to be made using boiling water and sugar, Ash simply diluted the granules in standard cold tap water. As you might expect, the consistency was sludgy. After adding the tea and pouring It into a large glass pitcher, she topped it off with more cold water.
In one video, Ash told a fan she usually makes the Southern sweet tea once or twice a week!
‘That is tea-flavored syrup’
Europeans who found themselves on Ash’s page were suddenly confronted by the “sugar-packed” sweet tea recipe, though some admitted to being interested in trying it.
One person said: “As a Brit who has never tried sweet tea, I didn’t realize that it was simply cold tea with lots of sugar. I thought there would be more to it, flavoring, etc. Also, 3 bags for all of that is wild.”
Some didn’t believe the content creator: “Do you actually put that much sugar in or is it a joke and you remove some before adding the tea.”
“wait, really? stares in European,” someone else wrote, as another chimed in, “Without a lie, I don’t even use that amount of sugar for my family of 5 in one year.”
Even other Southerners offered their opinion: “Literally my grandma put so much sugar. Its not even funny, but it is the best stuff I have ever had every time she comes over. Im like Grannie can you please make the tea.”
