A sun tea recipe is very easy to make. It’s also very low-maintenance because it doesn’t require any special tea bags or teabags.
All you need is a warm day with plenty of sunlight and the following ingredients to make a warm drink for yourself:
- Trickled water
- Black tea bags
- White sugar
- Lemon slices (Make sure that you know how to make lemon tea)
- Honey (can be used as an alternative to sugar)
- Fresh Mint (optional)
- Ice (optional) for cold-brewed iced tea
Finding an ideal sun tea mix is either few and far between or simply a highly fanciful initiative, however, we strongly urge you to read the comprehensive sun tea recipe below first.
This will help you gain a full understanding of how to make sun tea the best possible way!
What is Sun Tea?
Sun tea is a type of herbal tea made with herbs that have been sun dried. The herbs used to make sun tea can vary and may include rose hips, elderberries, red raspberry leaves, fennel seeds, ginger root and black pepper corns. When making a sun tea it should be brewed in the sun or using a solar oven.
The health benefits of drinking this type of iced tea are many, including antioxidants that help fight off free radical damage to DNA cells from environmental pollution such as cigarette smoke. Many people believe drinking the tea on the first day after giving birth can ease any pain or discomfort during recovery from labor.
Other health benefits of drinking sun tea include strengthening the immune system, boosting the ability to detoxify the body of toxins, regulating blood sugar levels and improving sleep.
This type of beverage can also be used as a garnish with many traditional dishes at dinner parties or for entertaining friends.
Sun Tea Ingredients
- 15 or 16 cups filled with trickled water (fill up 1 gallon glass jar with lid)
- 4 family size black tea bags (or, 1 regular tea bag for every cup of water)
- 1 1/4 cups filled with sugar
- Lemon wedges for garnish (optional)
How To Make Sun Tea?
The preparation method of sun tea may vary from person to person depending on their preferences and needs. For example, if you are more interested in preparing Southern iced tea, adding a certain type of black tea blends is an idea worth considering – the best examples of such a tea are Earl Grey, Pu-erh tea, Dimbula Ceylon, etc.
However, it will be better if you do not follow stereotypes ideas out there but consider using imaginative ideas of your own. Put simply, simply mix green tea, hibiscus tea, and peach tea altogether to prepare a fruity iced tea out of this world – being vibrant red in appearance, it will be refreshing, relaxing, and scrumptious to the fullest!
Once the tea bags are in the water, cover the dispenser and expose them to the sun, making sure that the duration is not more than two to three hours in general. After all, the duration is substantial enough to bring out the color and taste you desire earnestly.
Also, depending on your preferences you can add a certain amount of sugar. On the other hand, to save time you would spend on stirring sugar and watching the tea grains sink down to the bottom of the container, you can consider using honey to sweeten the beverage. The reason is simple – honey can be stirred relatively more easily and rapidly.
To give your sun tea the final touch, add lemon or citrus-like flavor to your tea, you can easily do so, as this will only enrich the flavor of the tea.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sun Tea Recipe
How do I brew sun tea?
This tea is brewed in the sun or using a solar oven. The container should be transparent so that the sun can penetrate it. Once brewed, remove from heat source and add sugar or honey if desired then place in the refrigerator to cool before using.
How much sun tea should I drink?
It’s not recommended to drink this type of tea every day, however drinking 2-4 cups per day is fine and may help with detoxification.
Sun tea does not contain caffeine (as most teas do) so it is recommended that children stay away from this specific beverage while observing their medication schedule as well as taking other medications.
What is the best way to keep sun tea cold?
Many people enjoy using ice in their containers of sun tea. However, freezing this beverage for a short period of time will not keep it cold for long periods of time.
One method that is often used to keep this tea cool is placing the container in a freezer and then removing it from the freezer when ready to drink. This works particularly well if you are making multiple batches of the beverage at once and do not want to wait around each time you remove the container from the freezer.
Other methods include placing the tea in an ice cube tray, freezing in portions (i.e. an 8 ounce drink) and then placing the ice cubes in a freezer bag.
How long will sun tea last?
Sun tea has a shelf life of 2-3 weeks if kept in the refrigerator.
Can I use sun tea in place of regular bottled tea?
Yes, you can substitute your Sun Tea for any other bottled or herbal teas. Since this beverage does not contain caffeine, it is perfectly safe to drink anytime of day, including while traveling. It is also known to boost energy and aid in digestion.
Why do you brew sun tea in a clear container?
A clear container is ideal because it allows the most penetration of sunlight into the water. The more sunlight that is allowed to be absorbed by the water, the less time it will take to brew. In fact, if you have a really dark container like a blue or black one, you’ll find that your sun tea takes much longer than 6 hours. This is because dark containers literally block out much of the light spectrum.
