American sweet tea & iced tea
In the American South, sweet tea — strong iced black tea sweetened to syrupy generosity — is the "house wine of the South"; iced tea in general dominates how Americans drink tea.
The United States drinks its tea cold. Nationwide, iced tea makes up the overwhelming share of tea consumed, but its spiritual home is the South, where sweet tea reigns. Sweet tea is black tea brewed strong and sweetened generously with sugar while still hot, so the sugar fully dissolves, then chilled and poured over ice — famously dubbed "the house wine of the South," a phrase popularised by the 1989 film Steel Magnolias. It is the default drink on Southern tables, at barbecues, church suppers and diners, offered as a matter of course and refilled freely. The first known printed sweet-tea recipe appeared in the 1879 Virginia cookbook Housekeeping in Old Virginia (using green tea), with the sweet iced-black-tea form becoming the Southern staple through the early 20th century as black tea grew cheaper and refrigeration spread. Beyond the South, American iced tea ranges from unsweetened "unsweet" to the modern craft cold-brew and bottled versions found from Brooklyn to Portland.
How it's prepared
Black tea is brewed strong and hot; for sweet tea, sugar is stirred in while the tea is hot so it dissolves fully, then the tea is chilled and served over plenty of ice, frequently with lemon. Cold-brew iced tea steeps leaves in cold water for hours for a smoother, less bitter result.
The vessel
A tall glass packed with ice, refilled from a pitcher kept ready in the fridge or set out on the table.
Its social role
In the South, offering sweet tea is a baseline act of hospitality and belonging; a full pitcher signals welcome, and "sweet or unsweet?" is a standard question at the table.
What accompanies it
Lemon wedges, extra ice, mint; served alongside barbecue, fried chicken, and Southern comfort food.