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.
Sweeter packets aren’t going to help. In my experience using them, too many start to give a bitter taste of their own. We use sugar in this house, and honestly it doesn’t take much to cut the tea bitter (which will depend on how and how long you brew it, that’s its own debate). Some restaurant sweet teas are way too sweet.
It’s like coffee, you have to find the right ratio that suits your personal taste buds. And sweet tea that sits in the fridge for a few days will get sweeter, but I’m always going through mine every other day or so.