A popular brewing method for tea lovers in spring and summertime is to let it sit under the natural heat from the sun. The technique is simple enough for sure. Even oddly satisfying to know that all you need to do is place your tea leaves and water in a clear vase and let the beams of sunlight do the rest. Sun tea is simply tea brewed in the sun rather than steeped in water on the stove or placed in an electric tea kettle. The time it takes for the sun to brew your tea depends on how sunny your area is and how long you leave it out to steep.
Sun Tea: Basics to Know
Sun tea recipe is a fun summertime activity that people have enjoyed for decades. Therefore, Sun tea is iced tea that is allowed to brew in sunlight for several hours. Tea is traditionally made using black tea such as Lipton or Lucienne. For your homemade sun tea, you can use any black tea you like or opt for herbal teas instead. The tea is often sweetened using sugar cane or brightened up with the addition of fruit.
To make sun tea, you need sun-brewed tea bags, water, sugar or honey, and clear plastic glasses. You can use any sugar or love you like best in this recipe there are no set rules. Mix the sugar with the tea bag before pouring boiling water over the mixture. The result is a mild-flavored tea that can be accented by adding sweeteners or blending different tea flavors. Some of the most popular flavors include hibiscus, peach, and rosehip.
Is it safe to make sun tea?
Sun tea is a great way to enjoy tea year-round, but for it to be safe, you need to make sure you do it the right way. This recipe will help you learn how to make sun-tea safely. You or your family members have health restrictions on caffeine intake, as well as kids who don’t like the taste of plain water. And because making suntea is so simple, it’s easy for anyone from kids on up to make it at home. When brewing sun-tea, it is sure not to let the teabags sit in hot water too long.
This can increase your risk of getting toxins such as lead and copper into your drink. You’ll want to store sun tea in a pitcher with an airtight lid or resealable plastic bag. If you’re using an airtight pitcher, then be sure to use clean utensils. Each time you take out some tea, no double dipping is allowed. Best tea can last about one week if stored properly.
Do I need a sun tea jar?
If you’ve never made sun tea Lipton before, it’s straightforward. All you need is a clear jar, some water, and tea. Fill your jar full of sun-warmed water, and then add two heaping tablespoons of loose-leaf tea for every quart of water. Cover the jar’s opening with foil or cloth, leaving enough room for air circulation. Put your jar in direct sunlight for at least four hours but no more than eight hours. When the timer goes off, strain out the leaves if desired and enjoy.
Before storing leftovers from your sun batch in a refrigerator, let it cool down first. Pour it over a tray or into ice cube trays to freeze as cubes that can add to cold beverages throughout the day. To serve sun-tea immediately, transfer it to a large pitcher filled with ice and garnish it with fresh lemon slices or other fruit wedges.
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How do I make sweet sun tea?
How to make sun tea, first, put the tea bag in a cup or a glass, then fill it with cold water. Let it sit out on the counter until the sun shines on it. Take a second container and add water to it. Then place ice into the container so that when your suntea is made extraordinary off, you can add ice to it for an even better taste. After chilling the brew, serve over ice cubes or other iced-tea additives like lemon wedges or sprigs of mint leaves.
For entertaining: store this refreshing iced tea in your fridge where making suntea will stay fresh for up to three days if you keep it below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheat from the frozen state: if using frozen black tea bags, remove them from the freezer and soak them in hot tap water as directed above for about 10 minutes before proceeding with the brewing instructions above.
The Best Teas for Sun Tea
Black Tea
Black tea is a perfect addition to iced tea because it delivers a solid and robust flavor. You can also make tea with green or white teas, but the flavors will be more delicate in comparison. To brew tea, start by filling a quart jar with water and adding 2-3 tablespoons of loose-leaf black tea (or one black tea bag). If you’re using loose-leaf black tea, allow the leaves to steep for 5-10 minutes. Once brewed, remove the leaves or bag from the water before refrigerating the mixture for 4-6 hours. So, that sun brew tea becomes cloudy with tannins released during brewing. If making sun-tea ahead of time, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus is a sweet floral tea that delivers a crisp and refreshing flavor to suntea. The flavor profile of hibiscus tea is like cranberries, with contrastingly sweet and sour tastes, the light floral undertones and aroma complete the exquisite flavor profile. The bags also brews into a stunning magenta hue that lends a beautiful visual component to your sun-tea brew. Making sun-tea is a simple process that involves only three ingredients: water, tea leaves, and a jar or pitcher. Jar with your favorite loose-leaf tea, setting it in direct sunlight for at least four hours, then serve it over ice.
Green Tea
Best Green sun brewed tea is one of the most popular. Green tea has been consumed for about 4,000 years. The popularity of tea in China can attribute to their love for hot days and ice-cold beverages. The temperature also plays an important role when serving sun-tea: when serving it right away, it should always serve cold because this allows the flavors to stay intact. The tasty tea is the perfect addition to sun tea as it offers a range of flavors from grassy and umami to earthy and herbaceous. Opt for roasted Chinese varieties for a toasty, rich flavor, or select Japanese green tea for vegetal and seaweed notes.
Chamomile Lemongrass Tea
Chamomile’s best tea recipe is known for its calming nature and soothing effects. It’s the perfect bedtime tea and can help you relax after a long, piping-hot day. The tea also delivers a flavor like crisp green apples. The lemongrass adds a crisp and refreshing taste, making this the perfect tea candidate. You can easily make tea with lemongrass, chamomile, and mint. Start with a quart jar or bottle of water. You can use tap water or filter water, both work well. Add a handful of chamomile flowers. If desired, add mint leaves, too; however, these may become bitter over time in direct sunlight.
Peppermint Tea
Jasmine Oolong makes the perfect choice for brewing tea for people who enjoy the mid-range flavor and floral accents. The oolong adds fruity and floral flavors that can play up with the addition of berries and citrus fruits. The jasmine flower petals add a subtly sweet floral tone, making this suntea lighter and fruitier.
Let it steep for an hour, then strain out all your peppermint leaves using a large sieve or strainer lined with cheesecloth. In a pitcher, combine 1 liter (about 1 quart) of boiling water with 3 heaping teaspoons of sugar and 10-12 sprigs of fresh mint or 15 drops of liquid concentrate. Mix until sugar is dissolve. Pour the mixture into mason jars. Chill at least 2 hours before serving, or overnight if possible.
