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Unsweet Tea Continued.....KWTX Blog Listing
Unsweet Tea Continued.....
Topic Author: Gordon Collier
Posted: 4:26 PM Nov 19, 2007
Replies Posted: 26 comments
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Unsweet Tea Continued.....

Here we go again. The assault on the English language continues at seemingly every restaurant in town. For those who were counting on me to lead the charge in the Sweet Tea vs. Unsweet Tea debate, I must apologize. I give up. The last straw was today. My friend Dan and I stopped by to check out a cafe that was new to both of us. Of course the first question was..."What would you like to drink?" I cringed a little before answering "Tea." I braced myself....I could feel it coming... then like a dagger thru my heart the follow up question ...."Sweet or Unsweet?" I calmly tried to explain that there's no such thing as unsweet tea unless she planned on sweetening the tea and then removing the sugar. So we would both be having "Regular Tea." The waitress looked at me like English apparently wasn't my first language. "Ok, then" she continued..."will that be Sweet or unsweet Regular tea." She obviously missed my point. As Dan laughed out loud, I hung my head in shame and ordered Unsweet Tea. Just when I thought I had recovered my composure, my Unsweet tea glass was empty. Either the first waitress took a break or wisely chose to give someone else a shot at waiting on our table. She walked up boldly and asked if we'd like a refill. "Yes, please." Again, I braced myself for the inevitable. "Sweet or Unsweet?" Never mind, I think I'll be switching to Coffee. Now I'll just have to decide if I want cream in my coffee or Uncreamed...

Read Comments
Posted by: ML Location: Hewitt
Gordon Go to Schmaltz's! They have TEA and SWEET TEA. No unsweet tea there. :) I noticed that the other day when I was there & thought of this blog. So I had to stop by and tell you about it.

Posted by: Art Location: West Point, MS
Are things which are "unknown" know and then forgotten? Is an unabridged dictionary, abridged first? Is an unadulterated lie, adulterated first. I would think "unsweetened" tea is tea that has not been sweetened, and that gas that has had it's lead removed, would be "de-leaded".

Posted by: Jerry Location: Columbia SC
Perhaps another way to view iced tea would be as "unthickened" or "thickened". Sweet tea is usually just a delivery system for sugar. I saw a reference to sweetened or thickened in a Charlie Chaplin movie, not in reference to tea. Too often sweet tea is so sweet it should be watered down about ten times. For Southerners though the goal is not to flavor water but to just liquefy sugar.. But I think unthick tea or unthickened tea is preferable to liguid sugar ...

Posted by: Mary Location: Cove
Alas, there is no language police...

Posted by: Kristi Location: Waco
The assault on the English language...what a topic to get . This post had me laughing, but in all seriousness, have you noticed that the rules regarding the use of the English language are continually changing to accommodate the most ignorant among us? This is very troubling for me. And example (and one of my biggest pet peeves) is the use of the word enamored. Of course, we hear people constantly using the phrase "enamored with", when the correct use is "enamored of". However, I read lately that the rules have changed, and it is now perfectly acceptable to say "enamored with". Yes indeed, we must cater to the ignorant.

Posted by: Linda Location: Holland
I'll take mine the way it comes out of the bag...just good old iced tea! We make 3 gallons a day in our office and if someone wants it sweet (and many do), they add their own sweetener, since "sweet" is a personal preference. As for grammar and the English language, I must comment on the ever increasing habit of both young and old in their reply to "Thank You" being "No Problem". What ever happened to the correct reply of "You're welcome"? It boggles the mind sometimes when common courtesy falls by the wayside.

Posted by: George Location: Ding Dong, Tx.
Originally from West Texas, I never thought of putting sugar in tea. The ranchers and cowboys I knew as a child always drank their coffee and tea non-sugared. I found out about putting sugar in tea after I moved to San Antonio. I suppose the thought of putting sugar in drinks never occurred to the Texans I knew.

Posted by: mikey Location: in the country
Some of us a diabetics so we want our tea un-sweet so we can get cancer from sweet and low.

Posted by: Harold Location: Temple
When, i grew up Tea was Tea. There was sugar or lemon to add. No one ever ask sweet or unsweet as How can anyone get the amount of sweet right.

Posted by: Brian Location: Temple
You don't say "unlemmon" when you don't want lemmon so you shouldn't have to say unsweet when you don't want sugar.

Posted by: Melinda Location: Hillsboro
You recognize a true Texan by the way they drink their tea.. Sweet and Cold! I have never thought much about the question, sweet or unsweet.. some places claim it's sweet but it's really not, I still add sugar. And someone brought up that in some restaurants, tea costs as much as an appetizer.. it is ridiculous to know they are making a lot of their profit on tea alone!

Posted by: Mary Location: Copperas Cove
Amen, Gordon! The point is not what the sweet is sweetened with, or even whether sweet tea is served at all. The point is that when you make tea, unless you alter it, it is "unsweet." So...if you don't specify "sweet," shouldn't "unsweet" be assumed as the default?!

Posted by: Tony Location: Waco
Well Gordon, look at it this way...whether or not it's "Sweet or Unsweet?", at least it's not "Hot or Iced?".

Posted by: Tasha Location: Mexia
Maybe NON-Sweet would fit it better.

Posted by: De Ann Location: Copperas Cove
Now here's the other side of the story, here in the heart of Texas, many us of DO like our sweet tea...we ARE the sweetest people on earth!!!! SOOOO how do we feel when we go to an eating establishment that does not serve sweet tea? If they can't take a few extra minutes to pour in some sugar...cup per gallon!!...then I can go somewhere else. Oh yea, my husband is a nonsweet person so we have this debate at home, where there are two gallons of tea in the fridge, the good and his!!

Posted by: Julie Location: Gatesville
I happen to agree with Peggy from Belton. What is with the tea prices??? I have four kids and when we go out to eat the cost of our tea cost as much as the meal. It is a crying shame that people are allowed to charge so much for something that cost so little. In my home I am able to make 10 gallons of tea for about $2.50....minus the cost of the sugar. So why is it that it cost so much for glass of tea at a restaurant these days??? I think, for now, my family will stick to the FREE Water with our meals:) And my kids can continue to use the FREE sugar packets and lemon wedges to make FREE lemonade.

Posted by: Scott Location: Temple
I'm usually so happy to find a restaurant that serves sweet tea, the grammar of "unsweet" never occurs to me.

Posted by: john Location: rogers
i agree it should be non sweetened or maybe unleaded? regular works fine for me too. of course i like my tea warm and not iced so maybe i am wierd. since we are on the subject of grammar....why do they always say "the subject pleaded guilty to the charges"? shouldn't it be "he pled guilty to the charges"? pleaded drives me crazy! my son's teacher at school says its a word but it just sounds worng to me!! ok 'nuff said john

Posted by: Herman Location: Waco
It is in the nature of dialect (or idiomatic speech) to abbreviate. "Sweet or unsweet" is merely an idiomatic abbreviation of "sweetened or unsweetened," which is grammatically and logically correct. While the idiomatic usage may be grammatically incorrect, if we prohibit all grammatically incorrect idioms from use, then us Texans won't be allowed to talk. Y'all have a nice day.

Posted by: Nancy Location: Waco
Let's face it "unsweet" is the quickest way to say "I hate sweet tea so don't bring me any." I aalways have to ask for "extra lemon" with mine or they'll bring me one measly little wedge if they bring any at all. I've learned you can't put enough lemon into sweetened tea to turn it into lemonade!

Posted by: Lori Location: Gatesville
This compares with the 'hot' water heater. Ever notice how we always say hot water heater. Do we need to heat our hot water? If the water was already hot, wouldn't we need a hot water cooler? The correct term would be water heater.

Posted by: Judy Location: Temple
Why get yourself in such a tizzy over tea? Just say NON-Sweetened Tea whenever you are asked Sweet or Unsweet. Think they will know that " non-sweet " means,made with no sugar?? Hmmmm

Posted by: Brazosdog79 Location: College Station
Gordon, you are soooo correct. When you say "unsweet' half the time they don't hear. Typically I respond "No Sugar." The simple answer is to have sugar declared illegal!

Posted by: Linda Location: Marlin, Texas
I started dringing unsweet tea about 25 years ago. I will not drink sweet tea now what an easy way to cut calories. Also I am afraid of sweetners like Sweet & Low they can't be good for you. Have a great day and I enjoy watching you and all the others on chanel 10. Linda

Posted by: Cliff Location: West
Like you Gordon, I have had issues with this for a long time, but had given up. After I had read your blog, there was a ray of hope and I was not the only person that this affected. Needless to say, my wonderful wife never said a word as I tried to explain this to the girl at the chicken place, in the drive through. She just smiled and told the girl it's nothing to worry, that I correct her too. What a world we have.

Posted by: Peggy Location: Belton, Texas
As much as I would like to debate on the correct format for unsweet and sweet tea there is another problem arising. There is a tea shortage. How is it that I can pay $1.80 for tea which is 99.9% water with a few tea grounds added and 100% water is free. I love tea and yes I am a tea addict, but when the tea costs more than your simple lunch, I find it very disturbing. I am in the wrong business. Since tea seems to costs as much as gas and no relief in sight, it is good to know that there is a new place in town that offers tea, all the tea you want for .50. And since they are new, I don't think they realize that tea is in such high demand. With that said I am going to be selfish and keep this location to myself until this establishment figures out there's a tea shortage. Are we still feeling the after effects of the Boston Tea Party?