cooling
After dilution the sweet tea is still very warm. To save energy, the tea is first aged and cooled outside the refrigerator. It is not intended that the sweet tea be consumed in the cooling state. The solution's heat will melt the ice, diluting the tea so that it will be too weak.

fresh
After the sweet tea has cooled, it is placed in the refrigerator. For the next 12-24 hours the sweet tea is fresh and tastes more earthy. The sweet tea is drinkable but is slightly weak since it has not fully strengthened and cooled.

refrigerated
The sweet tea is fully strengthened after about a day. Sweet tea has the smoothest taste in the refrigerated state. This is the intended serving state. Cooling allows production of a larger more dilute batch since less ice melts. A refrigerated glass of sweet tea lasts longer than the carbonated alternatives.

spent
After about four to five days the tea becomes strong and bitter and should be discarded. This seldom occurs.

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