Best sweet tea
General manager Michael Fuhrman with a pitcher of Mary Mac's beloved iced tea. It's your pick for the best non-chain sweet tea in and around Atlanta. Photo: Becky Stein / Special
YOUR PICKS (Local)
1. Mary Mac’s Tea Room
You say, “Mary Mac’s Tea Room hands down! Big ups to all the true southerners that responded in kind.”
2. Williamson Bros. Bar-B-Q
3. OK Cafe
4. The Sun Dial
5. Wright’s Gourmet Sandwich Shoppe
Chick-fil-A is your picks for the chain with the best sweet tea. Photo: PRNewsFoto
YOUR PICKS (Chain)
1. Chick-fil-A
You say, “The best iced tea on the planet, including Atlanta” and “Are you serious? Chick-fil-A has the best. No question about it. Always very great! When I think sweet tea, I think Chick-fil-a.”
2. McDonald’s
3. Zaxby’s and Cracker Barrel (tie)
4. Bojangles’
5. Captain D’s
OUR PICKS
1. Greenwood’s on Green Street
The sweet tea at Greenwood’s on Green Street is a winner because it avoids the two main pitfalls of sweet tea. It isn’t bitter (due to over-brewing) and it isn’t overly sweet. It is smooth and satisfying.
2. Mary Mac’s Tea Room
3. Mittie’s Tea Room
4. Chick-fil-A
5. Busy Bee Cafe
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200 comments Add your comment
Jo
February 21st, 2011
8:48 pm
McDonalds, Chickfila, Zaxbys, MaryMacs, Publix, & Luzianne if made at home, with lemon if its not sweet enough
Big Juicy
February 21st, 2011
8:50 pm
Chick-fil-a has the best tasting while McDonald’s has the best value…
Jim
February 21st, 2011
8:56 pm
My house! I use sugar in the raw and Tetley Decaf rounds to make a gallon at a time.
Jim
February 21st, 2011
8:57 pm
Oh, and in the restaurants, this may shock you; but, any El Torero has great sweet tea!
cfarris
February 21st, 2011
9:17 pm
Milos is my favorite of all time, but I love Chik Fil A for a local place.
Mochadlyte
February 21st, 2011
9:38 pm
McAllister’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pork Snob
February 21st, 2011
10:16 pm
Williamson Bros.
HammondXK
February 22nd, 2011
5:45 am
The Place @ Towne Lake has great Tea I like it with Lime
itsme
February 22nd, 2011
6:11 am
Serenbe.
HenryCoRedneck
February 22nd, 2011
6:59 am
Baby Jane’s in McDonough. Best tea and best AYE buffet.
Patrick
February 22nd, 2011
7:23 am
Matthews in Tucker, with the crushed ice……
Jeff
February 22nd, 2011
7:32 am
Dont people on here realize the difference between tea made with cane sugar and tea made with syrup? Also, someone posted about making it at home with 2 teabags and 2 CUPS of sugar??? Dude, i hope you have insurance so that my taxes dont have to pay for your health problems!!!
Ga Dawg
February 22nd, 2011
7:38 am
Sun Dial restaurant on top of the Westin Peachtree Plaza! Just had it yesterday…citrus vanilla bean – just a hint and it is perfect for this southern peach
toots
February 22nd, 2011
7:39 am
Enter your comments here
toots
February 22nd, 2011
7:41 am
Enter your comments here Well, I guess none of you have ever drank the tea at LongHorn’s in Douglasville. It is really good but like others have mentioned, it’s hard to beat home made tea. Oh, and by the way, Hudson’s tea is awful!! I always end up pouring it out.
mowreck
February 22nd, 2011
7:44 am
Captain D’s used to have the best sweet tea. Not many Captain D’s open anymore, but their tea was excellent.
Brewmaster
February 22nd, 2011
7:46 am
Having sold Tea for a few years, I will give you my opinion (for what it is worth). The OK Cafe has excellent tea year round followed closely by Mary Mac’s. They are both full flavored and mixed just right.
sharon
February 22nd, 2011
7:46 am
Piccadilly’s sweet mango tea is the best!
jrg
February 22nd, 2011
7:50 am
OK CAFE PUBLIX
Thrifty Mama
February 22nd, 2011
7:53 am
Mine! Old fashioned sugar syrup made on the stove with Luzianne tea.
The worst is at Marlow’s Tavern!
mowreck
February 22nd, 2011
8:00 am
Most GOOD restaurants sweet tea makers, use to use Luzianne Tea. Then is only a matter of how much to use, tea and sugar wise. Anyone who names a flavored tea hasn’t been in the south very long.
Carrie
February 22nd, 2011
8:10 am
Order: McDonalds,Red Lobster,Chic Fil A,Captain D’s,Watershed, Mary Macs
Top it off with the ice that Sonic has, & u’ve got a WINNER!
UDST(United Daughters of Sweet Tea)
February 22nd, 2011
8:12 am
OAK GROVE MARKET on LaVista has great sweet tea. Their volume of business assures that the tea is always fresh. It is self-serve, so if you’re worried about the sugar, you can tone it done with some of the unsweet tea. They have real lemon wedges, so you can add that if you like. AND they have crushed ice!!! The only way it could be better would be if it were served in glasses rather than styrofoam cups.
Maddernheck
February 22nd, 2011
8:12 am
I can’t believe we got 2 whole pages of comments without Folks being mentioned. Though there aren’t many locations left – it’s worth a drive for the fried chicken and sweet tea – OH MY!!!
lorie
February 22nd, 2011
8:13 am
Jim -n- Nicks BBQ has the best sweet tea. After that, I like Zaxby’s.
ATL
February 22nd, 2011
8:13 am
My mom’s, aunt, grandma & McDonald’s
Best TEA AROUND…………
former Cols resident
February 22nd, 2011
8:14 am
I’d second the Country’s BBQ in Columbus (the thing I miss the most from Columbus is Country’s!) but the best I’ve had in Atlanta hves been Mary Mac’s, Chick-Fil-A, McAllisters, and believe it or not, Captain D’s.
The Brantley Man
February 22nd, 2011
8:19 am
Chick-fil-a, although the styrofoam cups make all drinks taste better.
Todd - Dacula
February 22nd, 2011
8:19 am
1. My mother
2. Sonny Triangle restaurant, Hallandale, Florida; why have borders…
3. Arizona Sweet Southern Tea, if you cannot find a good local tea…
4. Cracker Barrel
5. McDonalds
Carla
February 22nd, 2011
8:28 am
I’m glad I’m not alone in this one…Captain D’s makes some GOOOD sweet tea! Haven’t tried McD’s yet but guess I will now…! And yes to the poster above…a good old fashioned, home-made southern style sweet tea….luzianne tea bags and yes…2 cups of sugar…lot’s of ice…lemon slice if you want.
Sam
February 22nd, 2011
8:29 am
The Pickrick on Hemphill Avenue serves the best iced tea in Atlanta!
Dawg
February 22nd, 2011
8:35 am
J. Alexander’s on Ashford Dunwoody – Tea is always brewed fresh – great tea flavor and color – clear, not cloudy – with just the right amount of sugar – not icky sweet. And your refills are always served in a fresh glass.
Know your Facts
February 22nd, 2011
8:39 am
Myth: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
Fact: No, it does not. Type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors that trigger the onset of the disease; type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors. Being overweight does increase your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, and a diet high in calories, whether from sugar or from fat, can contribute to weight gain. If you have a history of diabetes in your family, eating a healthy meal plan and regular exercise are recommended to manage your weight.
TEALOVER
February 22nd, 2011
8:41 am
Captain D’s and Adams Barbecue (Adams has the wonderful small, crunchy ice)
JudiDF - Tea Connoisseur
February 22nd, 2011
8:47 am
The best sweet tea around is MINE……..made at home!!! I agree with FoodieB: 2 family size Lipton tea bags; brought to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Lower the heat and let steep about 20 mins; pour over 2 cups of sugar in a gallon size container. I allow to cool like this, steeping even more before adding cool water from the faucet. Talk about D-LI-SCIOUS!!!! There’s nothing around like MY tea made in the privacy of my home. But after mine, I would choose McDonald’s. The taste is consistent regardless of which restaurant location you purchase it from and it’s very economical……..$1!!!! Can’t beat it. Someone else mentioned restaurants overcharging for tea which is very inexpensive to make and they are EXACTLY right. Save the money and make it at home or go to McDonald’s. When eating out at these high fluent restaurants, drink water when they’re tea is overpriced!!!!! Enjoy!!!!
Georgia Peach
February 22nd, 2011
8:53 am
McDonalds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AJ
February 22nd, 2011
8:59 am
Publix?! That stuff is awful. Too dark and has a funny aftertaste. Mc D’s and Mrs Winners are tops for me.
Tiff
February 22nd, 2011
9:01 am
There are some places that have good tea, but for a really interesting twist, at my last trip to the Sundial, I asked for tea and they brought it to me with fresh vanilla bean. Talk about yummy!
MelKel
February 22nd, 2011
9:08 am
I was born and raised in the south. This drink was ALWAYS called iced tea. After ordering iced tea, one would specificy whether they wanted it sweetened or unsweetened. That was ALWAYS the protocol.
I never heard the term “sweet” tea until four or five years ago. It seems that sweet tea is some sort of corporate marketing term. How quickly we forget.
Blondie
February 22nd, 2011
9:08 am
I am not a big sweet tea fan; however, when I feel the need for it, the only place I go is Chic-Fil-A. By far, it has the best. When I need just a small taste of sweet tea, I also go to Chic-Fil-A and get a large tea, half sweet and half unsweet.
JD
February 22nd, 2011
9:09 am
My mama’s…of course. But Popeye’s Cane Sweet Tea or McDonald’s Sweet Tea is second.
Alicia Chen
February 22nd, 2011
9:11 am
Nothing like some good ole’ Chick-fil-a sweet tea!!!
The Real Georgia Peach
February 22nd, 2011
9:12 am
I can’t say “my mother” because even though I love her with all my heart, she can’t make sweet tea to save herself. I use Paula Deen’s recipe and get rave reviews every time I serve it. McD’s and Chick-Fil-A are the best for fast food places, but Colonnade on Cheshire Bridge Rd. is the best restaurant sweet tea.
Patrick
February 22nd, 2011
9:15 am
I have to agree with Joy Bolick about McDonald’s Sweet Tea. When they introduced it a few years ago, I was skeptical, because I’d had tea from McD’s before. That was one of many reasons why I avoided McD’s at all costs. After they came out with the new tea, I tried it, and I loved it. It’s right up there with another popular fast food place based right here in Georgia, Chick-Fil-A. Those two places have been pretty consistent with their sweet tea from one location to another. Half the time I can’t tell the difference. Of course, Chick-Fil-A sells theirs by the gallon, so you can have it at home or work whenever you want. Until the gallon jug gets emptied out.
As for sit-down restaurants, I’ve found a lot of local Chinese restaurants to serve some of the best sweet tea out there. It’s probably because they use a special tea blend usually used for hot Chinese tea, but when chilled and sweetened, you’re in heaven.
As for store-bought-made-who-knows-where sweet tea, Milo’s Sweet Tea is tops. The company that makes it is based in Alabama, so they know their sweet tea. They are distributed through the same company that distributes Mayfield brand products(don’t drink the Mayfield Sweet Tea…just don’t.) so if you can’t find it in your store, ask them to start carrying it. Tell them to call their Mayfield distributor and order it. I remember walking into a Wal-Mart one time and they had one of those sample ladies giving out samples of the tea. I told her I already knew how it tasted. Tried a cup anyway, and sure enough it was good.
Father Murphy
February 22nd, 2011
9:18 am
Chuck e cheese
North over south
February 22nd, 2011
9:19 am
My house and I can also make Arnold Palmer with half lemonade…
yummy
February 22nd, 2011
9:23 am
chic-fil-a then popeyes
FCM
February 22nd, 2011
9:23 am
In this order:
Chick Fil A
Waffle House
Publix
Jim and Nick’s BBQ
Jen
February 22nd, 2011
9:26 am
Chick-fil-a, McDonald’s and store bought would be Milo’s.
MY SWEET TEA IS THE BEST!!
February 22nd, 2011
9:32 am
I have been told many, many times that I make the best sweet tea. I started as a little girl & I have mastered it. I put my foot in it, just a saying that it taste awesome. Can’t get any sweet tea when you go up North, I guess it’s a Southern thing, the Northerners wouldn’t understand. LOL!!