Mississippi tea

Here in Mississippi, when the conversation turns to beverages, people will often refer to “sweet tea,” and it annoys the hell out of me.

It would not annoy me if, when people referred to tea with no added sugar or artificial sweetener in it, they said only, “tea.”

But no. When I ask for iced tea — and I drink it unsweetened — I have to go to the trouble of saying “unsweet tea.” Why? Why?

It would not be as annoying if I knew that people who take their tea sweet only said, “Tea.” Then it would make sense for me to have to specify, “unsweet.”

But no. They have to say “sweet tea” AND I have to say “unsweet tea.”

It’s very annoying.

2 thoughts on “Mississippi tea”

  1. You grew up on the edge of Sweet Tea county, this shouldn’t be a big issue. I will confess, however, that I was surprised to move back here and discover that tea in South Texas was being routinely mistreated and pre-sweetened. I suppose that the spread of fat Americans across the w West made Sweet Tea de rigueur.

    1. Our tea was made like real Americans (then) made it — with Lipton Instant Tea powder and several teaspoons of sugar (per glass) stirred vigorously in. In fact it was my brother who drank most of the tea chez nous. I guzzled Dr. Pepper.

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