Sweet Tea Fried Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 6 cups water
• 8 bags black tea
• 1 cup (200 g) white sugar
• 1/4 cup (75 g) kosher salt
• 5 chicken legs, skin on
• 5 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin on
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce, optional but recommended
• 3 cups (420 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (160 g) cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 3 cups vegetable oil (corn, avocado, or peanut)
• Flaky sea salt, such as Maldon