Sun Tea Recipe

Want a homemade sun tea recipe, but wondering is making sun tea safe? This is a yummy summer drink recipe and one of those unique outdoor kid activity ideas, but there are important things to know before brewing tea this way.

There is no special sun tea mix, but be sure to read the full suntea recipe below so that you can be sure you understand how to make sun tea safely!

Sun tea is tea made from steeping the tea (“brewing” the tea) outdoors in the sun instead of brewing the tea on the stove. Many people use this as a way to make iced tea recipes in the summer and swear that it has a better flavor from the sun and others claim that there are many sun tea benefits.

I remember sun tea from my childhood. I would see glass jars of tea or a sun tea pitcher steeping in the summer sun and then the tea recipe would be ready to drink by the end of the day!

sun tea recipe

Sweet Sun Tea

sun tea recipe

Many people remember sun tea recipes from their childhood, especially in the south. It’s a fun recipe to make with kids, but be sure to read through the notes to understand the possible dangers of sun tea. To make this recipe, you’ll need a one gallon glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Prep: 5min

Total: 4h15min

Serving Size: 1

Nutrition Facts: calories 62 calories, Carbohydrate 16 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 0 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 0 grams fat, Fiber 0 grams fiber, Protein 0 grams protein, Saturated Fat 0 grams saturated fat, servingSize 1, Sodium 10 milligrams sodium, Sugar 16 grams sugar, Trans Fat 0 grams trans fat, unSaturated Fat 0 grams unsaturated fat

Ingredients:

  • 16 cups of filtered water (fill up a one 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 sugar
  • Lemon wedges for garnish (optional)

Instruction:

  1. Fill one gallon glass container (with lid).
  2. Add 4 family size black tea bags.
  3. Place lid tightly on glass container. Sit in direct sunlight for 3-4 hours.
  4. Remove from sun and pour tea into a pot. Bring to a rapid boil (to help kill bacteria).*
  5. Remove from heat and stir in sugar until dissolved.
  6. Pour over ice and garnish with lemon.

Sun Tea

sun tea recipe

Make and share this Sun Tea recipe from Food.com.

Prep: 5min

Total: 6h5min

Yield: 16 serving(s)

Nutrition Facts: calories 60.5, Fat 0, Saturated Fat 0, Cholesterol 0, Sodium 0, Carbohydrate 15.6, Fiber 0, Sugar 15.6, Protein 0

Ingredients:

  • 4 family-size tea bags (I know some people prefer one brand over the other, so you can decide which you prefer)
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar or 1 1/4 cups Splenda sugar substitute (or sugar/Splenda mix)
  • water, to fill container
  • lemon wedge, for garnish

Instruction:

  1. You will also need: 1 gallon container or jug, with a screw on lid.
  2. About 9am, fill your pitcher with the water, and tea bags.
  3. The reason for the screw on top, is so that ants don’t get to the tea.
  4. Let the tea sit in the sun for most of the day, a prime full sun location is best.
  5. When bringing the tea in, boil one cup, and then mix it with the sugar (but, in the summer, the heat from outside can be enough to dissolve the sugar).
  6. Boiling the cup of tea only helps to make dissolving the sugar easier.
  7. Combine the sugar, tea, and more water to make one gallon.
  8. Serve with thick 1 1/2″ wedges of lemon.
  9. It usually takes 4-6 hours of being in the sun, in order to steep.
  10. You can eye ball the tea, and bring it in, after the tea looks dark enough.
  11. Since the tea is best served cold, put it in the fridge right away.
  12. It does not last as long as boiled tea for some reason.
  13. And I usually leave the tea bags in the jug until the tea is gone.
  14. Then, I take the tea bags and sprinkle them in my flower garden, or over my roses.

HOW TO MAKE SUN TEA ICED TEA | DELICIOUS

FAQ

How long do you leave sun tea in the sun?

Place jar in direct sunshine. Steep tea for 3 to 4 hours (do not exceed 4 hours) Remove tea bags. Sweeten warm tea, if desired (do not add sweetener until steeping is finished)

What kind of tea do you use for sun tea?

What Tea Is Best for Sun Tea? If you do decide to make sun tea, it’s best to use black tea, never herbal tea, because its caffeine may help inhibit the spreading of bacteria in your drink. You can use black tea that’s loose-leaf or in tea bags.

Why don’t people make sun tea anymore?

The biggest issue with sun tea is bacteria. Warm, damp spots, like a jar filled with water and tea leaves and placed in the sun, can be a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria – especially if sugar is added to the sun tea while it is steeping.

Is there a safe way to make sun tea?

With that said, if sun tea is still your thing and you want to stick with it, there are some steps to reduce the risk of bacteria in your sun tea: Use a thoroughly cleaned and sanitized container. Opt for distilled water or boiled which would have killed any bacteria. Leave it out for up to 4 hours maximum.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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