In the South East, they bring you sweetened (usually far too sweetened for my tastes) iced tea. This is amazingly universal.
I live in NC and have been probing the border for years.
For “nicer” restaurants, the universal sweet tea boundary seems to be precisely at the NC/VA border.
I was at a BBQ/steakhouse in Red Bluff once and they acted like I had a third head when I asked for sweet tea. I understand you were south of there but whereabouts in California can I find sweet tea?
If you want it like actual Southern style, McDonald’s. Other places generally just have some sugar and lemon in the unsweetened tea and it’s never really enough to make me happy. I usually get the Lipton cuz I’m a fat fuck.
Some restaurants might even just bring you unsweetened and a bunch of sugar packets. I don’t think tea is very popular here :(
That’s good to know. I usually have to cut McDonald’s sweet tea with water, and I’d rather not support them anyway, but next time I’m on the left coast I know where to get my fix. Thanks, Kolanaki!