Sun Tea

Learn how to brew a bright flavorful pitcher of tea with the hot summer sun! 

Dreaming of a tall glass of ice cold tea without having to turn on the stove to prepare it? Use the sun instead to brew an entire pitcher in just a few hours. The smooth flavor of tea prepared by the sun might even surprise you. 

My husband’s grandma gave me her recipe for sun tea during a game of pinochle, which I promptly write down on the back of the scorecard. The next day I made my first jar of sun tea and it has been a summer staple ever since. I started out using a classic black tea and branched out from there. My current favorite is country peach from Celestial Seasonings.

What is Sun Tea?

Sun tea is tea brewed in the hot summer sun. This method of steeping tea is often preferred especially in the hot summer months because it can be prepared without using the stovetop. It only takes a few hours for the tea to fully release its delicious flavors into the water. After the tea is ready, put your entire jar into the refrigerator to cool down and serve over ice. 

Storing Prepared Tea and How Long Does Sun Tea Last?

Sun tea is meant to be made and consumed the same day. I like to steep my tea in the morning, and consume it in the afternoon or evening time. 

How to make Tea

Supplies

• Sun tea Jar 
• Water

Making Sun Tea, You can make this tea in 3 easy steps:

1. Add 4 tea bags and 6 cups of water to the jar with a sealable lid. I like using quart-sized mason jars with a plastic fitting lid.)
2. Set in the sun for about 4 hours.
3. Refrigerate and Enjoy

Tea Variations for Sun Tea

When tea is set with water it will infuse it’s flavor no matter the kind of tea or the temperature of the water. Hot to cold water can steep tea. 

• Peach Tea – Celestial Seasons is my absolute favorite! 
• Hibiscus Tea – I adore the deep pink color and floral flavor of hibiscus tea.
• Lipton Tea – A classic tea loved by almost everyone! 
• Green Tea – I love the earthy flavor of green tea and in my personal opinion taste best when brewed not in hot water!
• Mint Tea- You can use mint tea bags or use fresh mint from your tea garden!

Note: this is not an exhaustive list. If you have a favorite tea, try brewing a cup with the sun!

How to Serve

The most basic way to drink this tea is to pour it over ice and enjoy. If you want to get a little fancier, you can add sweetener for a sweet tea, lemon or lime slices, and even some mint. You can also add fruit syrups to your tea as well. 

Cautions for Sun Tea

It should be noted that some sources say that tea needs to be brewed at a certain temperature in order to kill off any bacteria that could be lurking in the water or tea. While it should be noted that this could be a risk and everyone must determine what is safe for themselves with the help of their doctor, there are a few steps to take that will help keep possible bacteria at bay. 

• Thoroughly wash your supplies with soap and hot water.
• Refrigerate immediately after making tea.
• Prepare only what will be consumed on the same day.
• Use sweeteners only after the tea has been prepared and be sure to refrigerate.  

More Tea Recipes You Will Love!

• Lady Grey Tea
• Vanilla Chai Tea
• Cold Brew Green Tea
• English Breakfast Tea
• Ginger Chai
• Raspberry Iced Tea
• Peach Iced Tea
• Rose Hip Tea
• Brown Sugar Milk Tea
• Blackberry Iced Tea
• Jasmine Tea