They must have changed their tea! I have tried it in Fayetteville, Clayton and just this afternoon in Lumberton, NC and they all have changed to this sucky, non-tea-like drink. I actually had them take it back the first time, but then they brought the new back to the table and it was just as unpalatable.

ADDENDUM [09/15/22]: I’ve probably written about Smithfield’s awful tasting tea elsewhere. During my recent 50th high school reunion, a few of us at a table started talking about Smithfield’s unsweet tea, which has a horrible, non-tea like flavor. Their sweet tea is deliciously sweet, but it is obvious that they don’t give a rat’s ass about their unsweet tea. In fact, it tastes like someone has taken cigarette ashes and added them to water. That is the closest thing I can compare the taste to. It was so refreshing to have more than just me stating how horrible their unsweet tea tasted.