Homemade Sun Tea
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My little half a gallon jug steeping green tea bags for sun tea. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Homemade Sun Tea
If you’ve never made sun tea, this is the summer you should try it. It is not only easy to make but a nice refreshing change to ice tea made out of tea bags steeped in hot water.
When it comes to making tea, it doesn’t matter if the water is hot or cold. Hot water steeps the tea; cold water makes it an infusion. Either way, wet tea brings out the flavor.
What makes sun tea different, in my book, is that it is slow steeped, bringing out the tea flavor.
A friend of mine who had not tried sun tea was telling me it takes too long so she prefers to steep her tea in hot water. Hot water does release tea flavor quickly but I can get a similar reaction letting the sun heat up my tea water and I’m not heating up my kitchen in the middle of a record hot summer.
Homemade Sun Tea Recipe
You Will Need:
Glass container with a lid (gallon or half-gallon)
Tea bags or loose tea with a tea infuser to taste
Fresh honey
Mint springs or lemon slices (optional)
My tea making glass jar and three tea bags just placed in the sun to steep. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
To Make:
I like my tea on the lighter side so I use 3-4 green tea bags per half-gallon. You may need to try a few combinations to find your tea strength preference.
You can mix tea bags, too, it’s a great opportunity to clean out your random stash of tea bags and try different combinations. A green tea with a fruity tea would be a nice first choice to try.
I fill my glass container with cold water, then add the tea bags with the tags hanging over the side. Cover.
Place the glass jar in a south-facing window away from traffic and curious little hands and paws.
Now the magic.
Depending on how strong you like your tea, it can be ready in an hour or steep for a day, it’s up to your personal preference on strength and color.
Once it’s the tea strength you want, add honey to sweeten if you like a sweeter tea. I add a teaspoon per 16 oz. glass or drink as is so adjust the sweetness to your taste.
Fresh spearmint spring straight out of my garden. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
Pour over ice cubes.
Serve with a slice of lemon or a sprig of fresh spearmint straight out of your garden.
Sun tea, the sure taste of summer! (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
If you enjoy making drinks, pick up our reprinted 1946 vintage Trader Vic’s Food and Drink book. Bet you will find some interesting drink recipes there, too!
