Hello, welcome. Thank you so much for being here!
Today I’m sharing the method of brewing tea by the light of the sun. This is how my family loves to brew our iced teas – the flavor from this technique is truly unbeatable.
What is sun tea?
Sun tea is a beverage brewed using the method of steeping tea over a longer period of time in the light of the sun. The water in your vessels begins cold or at room temperature, and gently warms with the light of the sun.
By using this method of brewing, there is a noticeably less bitter taste to the tea, so you can pick up on the unique flavors within it.
What types of tea can I use?
I’d imagine this method of brewing tea could apply to all teas and tisanes (herbal teas). Thus far, I’ve only used black and green tea, which are the two I’m sharing with you today. I’d love to try this technique with rooibos tea one day! This summer I hope to use this method with some herbs and flowers from the garden.
How much tea do I use?
The ratio of tea to water is 1:1, that is one tea bag per one cup of water. If you’re opting for loose leaf tea, the ratio is one teaspoon of leaves per one cup of water. You’ll just need a strainer to strain the leaves in step four.
You can drink this tea sweetened or as is. Unsweetened or not, this tea pairs well with a slice of lemon.
Tools you may need
A vessel with a secure lid
Ingredients list
Green tea
Black tea
Sun Tea – Two Ways
Yield: 2 quarts (one quart black tea, and one quart green tea)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 4 hours (minimum)
Measurements
4 black tea bags
4 C water
3 TBSP sugar or honey (optional)
4 green tea bags
4 C water
3 TBSP sugar or honey (optional)
Directions
- Fill your vessels with water (I use quart mason jars).
- Drop in your tea bags, leaving the tags hanging out of the lid of the jar for easy removal.
- Place vessels in a sunny place for at least 4 hours.
- Bring jars inside, remove tea bags, and chill. Best served cold. If sweetening, add sugar while tea is still warm to completely dissolve it. Then chill.
Plan of Action
I’ll make one quart of both green tea and black tea at the beginning of the week and start another batch as we finish the previous one.
