Sweet Tea is a staple in the south and whether you like yours as sweet as can be, or half and half, jazz up your sweet tea by brewing a simple syrup additive. Try Raspberry vanilla sweet tea by heating one cup of sugar, half a cup of water, half a cup of smashed raspberries and one split vanilla bean until the sugar has dissolved.
Let the mixture cool, strain it and then add into a half gallon of brewed ice tea. Feel like a trip to the islands? Try heating one cup of sugar and one cup of coconut water until the sugar is dissolved, then add to a half gallon of brewed tea. Or brew up a minty treat by heating one cup of sugar, one cup of water, and one cup of mint leaves until the sugar dissolves. Then let the mixture cool, strain, and add to a half gallon of brewed tea.