Southern CA default seems to be unsweetened iced tea, which is basically all I drink so it's fine with me.

In the Texas, you can ask for “half and half” tea. You’ll get a mixture of sweet and unsweet iced tea. In a huge glass with plenty of ice. And free refills.

If you want hot tea, you need to ask for hot tea. Most places will bring you a couple selections of bagged tea and a too-small pot of not-hot-enough water. Hotel restaurants are known for bringing out a huge caddy of various tea bags for you to chose from. If you want milk/cream in your hot tea, you’ll have to ask for it, it’s not assumed.

If you want a cup of tea then you'll ask for a cup of tea. You don't ask for just paper either, you ask for a sheet of paper. Be specific.

Supermarket tee (the one in the bags), just more expensive and cold.

Colorado here, and at most restaurants you’ll usually be asked what type of tea or be brought a mug/teapot of hot water and an assortment of tea bags to choose from.

Depends on the place Asian places will give you a kettle mug and a box of teas and other places will just give you the mug of hot water and the box of teas and sometimes you can ask for sweet tea and have the full options of sugar maple honey and raspberry tea I'm from Vermont by the way

Chicago: Asian restaurants will bring you a pot of already-brewed, ready-to-drink hot tea. So will nicer Western restaurants that have an actual tea program. Coffee shops and mid-tier restaurants will typically give you a cup with the tea already brewing and it's up to you to remove the bag or sachet in a timely manner.

Everywhere else brings you a little tea-making kit consisting of hot water, teabag(s), and maybe lemon and honey. You have to ask if you want milk, except at oldschool diners.