Sweet Tea Fried Chicken

Name: Sweet Tea Fried Chicken
Ingredients: 6 cups water; 8 black tea bags; 1 cup ( 200 g ) white sugar; 1/4 cup ( 75 g ) kosher salt; 5 chicken legs , skin on; 5 chicken thighs , bone-in and skin on; 2 cups buttermilk; 1 tablespoon hot sauce , optional but recommended; 3 cups ( 420 g ) all-purpose flour; 1 cup ( 160 g ) cornmeal; 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; 3 cups vegetable oil (corn, avocado, or peanut); Flaky sea salt , such as Maldon