Sweet tea is iced black tea sweetened heavily with sugar while the tea is still hot, so the sugar fully dissolves; sugar stirred into already-cooled tea sinks and turns gritty instead of dissolving. Traditional Southern recipes use roughly 1 to 2 cups of sugar per gallon of brewed tea, far more than a typically sweetened glass of iced tea. It is closely associated with the American South, especially Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina, where it's served at meals, family gatherings, and restaurants alongside dishes like fried chicken and barbecue. Variations add lemon or mint, or substitute honey or agave for sugar; some drinkers prefer it brewed stronger ('strong') or diluted ('weak').