South Carolina purists drink Fireball whiskey straight out of a bottle. Straight out of the the bottle is the only way to get the full effect of this spicy, cinnamon-flavored South Carolinian favorite.  In South Carolina, we know what things are important in life…and the order in which those things matter. Shrimp and Grits falls third on the list of the most important things to South Carolinians (first being football, second being whiskey…) While it might resemble white mush, grits are the backbone for any South Carolinian breakfast. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it. South Carolina claims to be the home of barbecue, because Indians were pit-roasting wild hogs when the first explorers arrived. Most parts of the country use a ketchup based barbecue sauce, while some places prefer a vinegar base. In South Carolina all of the best sauces start out with a mustard base. It gives this condiment a better zing than any sauce an out-of-towner will have had elsewhere. Every South Carolinian knows that peanuts taste best when they’ve been boiled in extremely salty water for a long time. These peanuts can be purchased everywhere, from in cans at a grocery store to big restaurants to roadside shacks, but every local knows that the more rural the shop is, the better the final product will be. Hot sauce goes on everything. South Carolinian taste buds love a little bit of spice in every bite. That being said, there are tons of awesome local hot sauce brands and there’s no reason not to try them all. Wadmalaw Island is home to America’s only commercial tea plantation, American Classic Tea.Many people claim that Summerville, South Carolina was the birthplace of sweet tea. It’s no surprise this drink took off in the Palmetto State. It’s perfect for sipping while sitting on a porch on a warm summer day.If an out-of-towner is ordering tea with a meal, make sure they know it will probably come cold, with a load of sugar, and a slice of lemon in it.  Frogmore Stew has no frogs in it. While the word “frog” is in its
name, it’s named after the community that came up with a popular recipe,
not what’s in it. Frogmore stew is a delicious seafood boil, typically
consisting of shellfish and veggies. If it's authentic it will be poured out on a table covered with newspapers. Hushpuppies are usually just deep-fried balls of corn batter but don’t let the simplicity of the recipe confuse you. These side dishes are all the rage here in South Carolina. Out-of-towners first and foremost need to try hushpuppies as a side to seafood. It’s a match made in seaside heaven. Some people across the country call them “crayfish” or “crawdads,” but in South Carolina, these bright red shrimp like creatures are called “crawfish”, and they’re delicious. Everyone in South Carolina seems to have a family recipe for their biscuits. While they’re always delicious 99.9% of the time, insulting someone’s biscuit if there’s a bad batch is a quick way to make enemies. In South Carolina, “supper” is the big meal at the end of the day. Most people around the country don’t use this word anymore and it might take a while for them to get used to it being so common in the Palmetto State. While some parts of America have their Friday night fish fries, South Carolina has their oyster roasts. These gatherings are used as a great excuse to pull some loved ones together and throw back a few brewskis.  |
