I have a question on Sweet Tea

[Delmonico]

In my area making unsweetened iced tea is the most popular way, those who want it sweet just add sugar after the fact.

What I am looking for here is does anyone have any evidence/proof of it being made by adding the sugar while it is brewing before the early 20th Century.  It is another one of those items that is hard to track down, it seems logical someone might have done it.

The only references to sugar only mentions it as being added to the tea at serving or mentions that it should not be added because it destroys the flavor of the tea.

I did find one reference in the 19th Century of making cold brew iced tea. 

I am looking for straight facts here, a recipe from a dated cookbook, a hand written recipe from Great Grandma's Mother, or anything like that.

I'm looking to satisfy myself, as for making it in camp, if several people wanted it, I would make it on hot days because it would be good for people, not because it was PC.

BTW if anyone Wiki's it, I already did, I leave no stone unturned, the  1879 book "House Keeping in Old Virginia" I have access to, the sugar in the recipe wiki mentioned adds the sugar after the brewing. 

[Shotgun Franklin]

All I can tell you is that both my Grandma's were born in the 1880s and both cooked the tea and added sugar while it was still hot. I watched but have nothing in writing like a recipe.

[theshoer]

the only tea I remember back when I was a kid was instant tea with sacrarn (sp), now thw only tea I will drink is sun tea (lipton)

[Singing Bear]

You can do a Google for "history of sweetened iced tea". Most of the references sighted a Southern concoction and most, if not all, were sweetened after the fact either while the tea was still hot or cooled down. Also seems the earlier drinks were made with green tea with somekind of alcohol added in and were referred to as "punches".

[Delmonico]

You can do a Google for "history of sweetened iced tea". Most of the references sighted a Southern concoction and most, if not all, were sweetened after the fact either while the tea was still hot or cooled down. Also seems the earlier drinks were made with green tea with somekind of alcohol added in and were referred to as "punches".

I've done that and had my one researcher do that also, several different ways, nothing exactly what I'm looking for.

[MedicineMan]

No need to worry.
The recipe is VERY simple. (don't know why some areas can't figure it out)   

SOUTHERN SWEET TEA

Never "boil" the tea bags, it makes the tea bitter.

I use 1 gallon water, 6 regular tea bags, and a cup and a half sugar.

Put bags and water in pot.
Bring ALMOST to boil and take off heat. Don't let the water "roll".   ..... leave bags in water.
Let sit for about 15 minutes.

Pour into serving container, pitcher, glass jar, (plastic if that's all you got)
Add sugar and stir well.

Serve over ice, or better yet do it like we do "down here" and chill tea in fridge then serve cold without ice.

[Delmonico]

It isn't hard to figure out how to make it, I'm asking for dated recipes before the 20th century or at least a reliable dated referance.

[MedicineMan]

It isn't hard to figure out how to make it, I'm asking for dated recipes before the 20th century or at least a reliable dated referance.

Not sure when our National drink became the norm down here....
Some things didn't have (or need) a "recipe" written out.
It has just be one of those things that has "always been that way" since folks can remember.

[Delmonico]

And that was the whole question in the first place since there is no references I can find till the 1920's.      I have my doubts for many reasons that it "hasn't always been that way."