Sweet tea was meant for summer cocktails

Some drinks are made for cocktails. Sweet tea — the classic Southern accompaniment to fried chicken and barbecue — is just one such drink. Lighter than juice, sweet tea forms the base of cocktails that look and taste refreshing.

Snapple has a new sweet tea in a can — 79 cents a pint at Sun Fresh Market — that won’t quite hold a spoon upright but comes close. With a splash of light rum, a squeeze of lime and a sprig of mint, this innocent glass cup becomes a dangerously drinkable mojito. Those who steep their own tea can try this recipe for a sweet tea mojito.