Summer Sun Tea

When I was a little girl I remember playing in the backyard wading pool, dressed in my 1980’s navy blue swimsuit with a rainbow stripe down one side. As I splashed away in the cool water, having the time of my life, my mom’s delicious sun tea was steeping nearby in the hot summer sun.

There is something so refreshing about sun tea. It’s smooth, sweet and simply delightful. No matter how you choose to flavor your fresh batch of sun tea, I think it is always better brewed in the sunshine.

Since the temperature is climbing to a scorching 100° this week, I thought it was a perfect time to share this easy recipe.

All you need to get started is,

1. A glass pitcher with a lid attachment, as it will be outside for several hours (a gallon jar or drink dispenser will also do)
2. Eight to twelve tea bags
3. Three to five hours of bright, direct sunshine

My go-to tea is Lipton Black Tea. I also love the peach flavor. You can use any tea brand you choose, or flavor you prefer. Regular, decaffeinated or half-caff, it’s all up to you!

This recipe calls for eight tea bags per gallon of water. My glass drink dispenser is one and a half gallons, so I use twelve teabags when I brew a batch.

Fill your glass container with water, insert the tea bags and place in the summer sunshine for 3 to 5 hours.

Once the tea has steeped, remove the tea bags. If you are going to add sweetener to the entire batch of tea, this would be a good time to do it – when it is warm, as the sugar easily absorbs. I prefer to add sugar one glass at a time.

I usually cannot resist tasting it right away. I like to have a glass of ice ready and waiting to pour the sun tea over and try immediately.

Place the tea in the refrigerator until cool.

Enjoy!

Be blessed, friends…

~ Stephanie

Summer Sun Tea

Ingredients:

• 8 – 12 Tea bags
• 1 – 1.5 Gallons of water
• Sweetener, if preferred

Instructions:

• Fill a 1 to 1.5 gallon glass pitcher with water
• Add 8 to 12 tea bags
• Place in the direct sunlight for 3 to 5 hours
• Remove tea bags
• Cool and enjoy!