I have always loved sweet iced tea! In the South, it has
meaning beyond just merely being a refreshing beverage. Here, where time slows
down, it is a type of Southern communion, shared with friends and family dating
back to its early days when first planted in my hometown of Summerville, South
Carolina. In fact, Summerville has an entire festival proclaiming that little
piece of history—The Sweet Tea Festival!
Sweet Tea is an offering, of sorts, to friends, family, and
even strangers when they visit. It denotes hospitality and signals that the
visitor is welcome. It says, “We have something in common.” It says, “I know
your kind of people.” For some Southern ladies, it is a bit of an insult to
turn down their kind offering of tea. I’ve seen my own mother become offended
because someone watered down her sweet tea. In the South, we drink each other’s
sweet tea as is…without complaint. It’s just good manners—like our mommas taught
us.
My latest novel, available now on Amazon, SWEET TEA AND
TIME, is a book from my Summerbrook Series that explores the ties among hospitality,
comfort food, sweet tea and an accidental romance in a small, Southern town. The
book follows the disappointments of a young woman who wants to protect her
aging grandmother, who gives away her sweet tea to all she meets. In many instances
in the story, the motif of sweet tea can be exchanged with the motif of time. If
one has time for sweet tea, one has time for people.
I used the idea of sweet tea because it is so important to Southerners.
They even note in which local
restaurants they can find a suitable version of grandma’s homemade sweet tea,
and they’ll sometimes make their dining choices accordingly. It’s that serious,
people!
Though not officially condoned, sometimes, condiments are
added to our favorite amber-colored drink to change up the monotony of the
ubiquitous drink. People have added lemon and mint for ages, but a new favorite
is emerging, as well—peach iced tea. I’ve seen a number of other versions, as
well, like ginger sweet tea, strawberry sweet tea and black currant sweet tea.
But those are anomalies and would get you a very strange look from most
Southerners who prefer the beverage in its purest form—nothing but brewed tea
and sugar!
The cooling beverage can be found in restaurants all across
the South, but don’t look for the sweet nectar in Yankee territory. They’ll look
at you quizzically and offer their “unsweetened” version. But don’t order it
because if you don’t add the sugar to the warm brew, it’s just not the same.
Sweet tea is best sipped slowly a front porch with family
and friends, so brew yourself up a big gallon of Southern hospitality, find a
person you want to share some time with, sit on that front porch rocker and let
a lazy afternoon slip away!
