Year round I am a HUGE fan of sweet tea, but it is during the hot and humid months of the summer that my true love for tea awakens. Despite my love for sweet tea, the Midwest refuses to provide viable options for anybody that has a hankering for some good ol' Southern style tea.
My eyes roll further and further back into my head with each time I hear, "We only have unsweetened tea, but I can bring you some sweetener." Anybody with common sense is well aware that sweetener does not dissolve after the tea is ALREADY COLD.
So, I have compiled a flimsy list of the only restaurants I've come across in the Midwest with semi-decent sweet tea options. Enjoy!
5. McDonald's
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-mcdonalds-brings-back-foam-cups-0706-biz-20170705-story.html
Okay, yes, I know a McDonald's can be found nearly anywhere you go, regardless of if you live in the Midwest. And I'm not saying it's the most amazing tea I've ever had, but they truly put the sweet in sweet tea. Isn't that what we are really asking for?
4. Scotty's Brewhouse
https://www.yelp.com.sg/biz/scottys-brewhouse-noblesville?start=40
Scotty's Brewhouse is one of the only restaurants I've been to that offers sweet tea. Now, that's not to say Scotty's is a reliable option because it's pretty hit or miss. Sometimes I'll order their tea and be pleasantly surprised, other times I swear they've given me unsweetened tea. Honestly, it's never a bad idea to have a backup drink in mind at Scotty's.
3. Chick-fil-A
https://thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/Inside-Chick-fil-A/Three-Decades-One-Blend-The-Story-Behind-Chick-fil-A-Iced-Tea
Chick-fil-A is always my go to. Food, drinks, desserts, service, it's all high quality all the time. Their tea may not have the typical Southern sweetness to it, but it is always fresh and ALWAYS good. I love Chick-fil-A. Enough said.
2. McAlister's Deli
https://www.brandeating.com/2015/07/free-sweet-tea-at-mcalisters-deli-on-july-23-2015.html
I can without a doubt say that McAlister's knows how to make sweet tea. I've witnessed the making of their tea and let me just say it is a lot of sugar, but the heart wants what the heart wants. If their tea wasn't impeccable then why else would they have Free Tea Day? By the way, it takes place every June. I also have it under pretty good authority that their lemonade and Arnold Palmer's aren't too shabby. Not only is their tea amazing, but they hands-down have the best pickles I've ever had.
1. Make it yourself.
https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/sun_tea/
And ringing it in at number one- MAKE IT YOURSELF. Let's be honest, as much as Indiana acts like a Southern state, it will never be one simply because it's still making tea Midwest style (notice the way that doesn't roll off the tongue). If you're really hoping for decent sweet tea your best bet is to make it yourself. Personally, making sun tea has always been my go to, but that is rather weather-permitting. Regardless of if you're letting mother nature brew your tea, or are confined to the walls of your house, patience is always the key ingredient. The longer the bags brew, the better the tea. Also, don't be afraid to use real sugar. Your taste buds will thank you later.
