The taste is just plain dreadful. Not only is it bitter, the whole “sweet” part doesn’t even taste like the usual sweet you think of. Like lemonade, yes it is perfectly sweet. Soda beverages, THAT’S sweet. But TEA, awful. And it’s like no matter how many sweetener packets you put in it, it doesn’t at all help. It’s one of those drinks where you might give it another chance if it’s available thinking it might be better but it always lets you down.
My problem with most southern sweet tea is that it’s too sweet. I love sweetened iced tea, but usually get unsweetened and add either sugar or lemonade (the latter if it’s real, and not that stuff that’s mixed from a powder).