Sweet Tea Brined Fried Chicken Recipe - Reily Products

Ingredients

• 8 cups water, divided
• 4 family-size bags Luzianne® Unsweet Iced Tea
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup kosher salt (or coarse salt)
• 2 sprigs fresh lemon thyme (or plain thyme)
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 lemon, quartered
• 1 (3-pound chicken), cut into 8 pieces
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon Louisiana-style hot sauce
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper + extra to taste
• 1 teaspoon salt + extra to taste
• Vegetable oil, for frying