Although it could be bought at any restaurant, gas station or convenience store the food/drink that is most important and divisive in my family is the sweet tea. We are not a southern family, both of my parents and I graduated from Federal Hocking High School. I have spent basically my entire life in Athens County, but sweet tea is still a mainstay in our house.
Interestingly enough out of the seven inhabitants of 5700 Gursslin Road only two drink it: me and my father. But no matter what if you open the refrigerator at our house you will always see a pitcher of sweet tea (maybe not always, but if you don’t see one turn around, either someone is pouring a drink or there is a pitcher being made). I quit drinking pop (proof I’m not from the south) three years ago and have since became a strict “water and tea guy.” I don’t mind drinking water when I’m thirsty, but when it’s time to eat I have to have sweet tea.
Mom usually makes the sweet tea because she pretty much dominates the kitchen, however when given the chance (and the desire) dad and I will take a crack at making it. This diversity in makers leads to a diversity in taste. Mom’s recipe for two liters is one and a half cups of sugar and six tea bags, while dad likes it stronger (and cares less about the cost) so he uses nine tea bags. The real difference is with me. Because my only other option is water I like my sweet tea to be more of a snack or sorts, so I add another ¼ cup of sugar and usually rest somewhere in the middle with eight tea bags.
No matter who makes it one thing stays the same, it’s great. A cold (refrigerated not filled chilled by ice, it dulls the flavor) glass of sweet tea with lunch or dinner (or sometimes breakfast, if I get up late enough) can be the best part of my day. If I know I won’t be home for a meal I bring alone a bottle of tea to drink with my meal. When I lived away from home for my first two years of college my apartment always had tea ready to go. I don’t feel a meal is complete without the sweet chill of tea washing over my mouth and down my throat carrying whatever my saliva didn’t pick up with it on the way to my stomach. Maybe that description didn’t work for you, but it does for me, just like the McCune family sweet tea.
Interestingly enough out of the seven inhabitants of 5700 Gursslin Road only two drink it: me and my father. But no matter what if you open the refrigerator at our house you will always see a pitcher of sweet tea (maybe not always, but if you don’t see one turn around, either someone is pouring a drink or there is a pitcher being made). I quit drinking pop (proof I’m not from the south) three years ago and have since became a strict “water and tea guy.” I don’t mind drinking water when I’m thirsty, but when it’s time to eat I have to have sweet tea.
Mom usually makes the sweet tea because she pretty much dominates the kitchen, however when given the chance (and the desire) dad and I will take a crack at making it. This diversity in makers leads to a diversity in taste. Mom’s recipe for two liters is one and a half cups of sugar and six tea bags, while dad likes it stronger (and cares less about the cost) so he uses nine tea bags. The real difference is with me. Because my only other option is water I like my sweet tea to be more of a snack or sorts, so I add another ¼ cup of sugar and usually rest somewhere in the middle with eight tea bags.
No matter who makes it one thing stays the same, it’s great. A cold (refrigerated not filled chilled by ice, it dulls the flavor) glass of sweet tea with lunch or dinner (or sometimes breakfast, if I get up late enough) can be the best part of my day. If I know I won’t be home for a meal I bring alone a bottle of tea to drink with my meal. When I lived away from home for my first two years of college my apartment always had tea ready to go. I don’t feel a meal is complete without the sweet chill of tea washing over my mouth and down my throat carrying whatever my saliva didn’t pick up with it on the way to my stomach. Maybe that description didn’t work for you, but it does for me, just like the McCune family sweet tea.
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