Up for a simple and eco-friendly tea? Yes, you heard it right! Rather than boiling water on your stove or heating it up in the microwave, sunlight provides gentle heating that, over time, can brew the tea leaves you’ve selected. The tea has a moderate yet subtle flavor and aroma that can be increased by the addition of fruit, sweeteners, as well as natural herb infusion. The container you use to make sun tea should be clear, to allow the sun’s rays to penetrate to the tea bags and water. Therefore, remember to use only glass jars for making sun tea, never plastic. Choose a glass jar that has a lid so you can prevent bugs and other outside particles from getting into your tea as it steeps. Sun brewing ensures a stronger, smoother brew. Due to the long steeping time, sun tea is not an instant beverage.
Here are 2 methods of making sun tea:
1. Classic sun tea – all you need for this are 4 cups of distilled water and 5 tea bags of any kind. Choose a glass jar to brew your sun tea and fill the glass jar with 4 cups of distilled water. Add five tea bags to it and place the container in direct sunlight for 2 to 4 hours. Do not let it sit in the sun for over 4 hours, as then it would encourage bacteria to grow. Remove the tea bags and discard them. Pour the brewed tea into glasses and add sugar if you’d like.
2. Herbal sun tea – you’ll need 4 cups of distilled water and 1 cup of an assortment of fresh herbs, such as mint, hibiscus, chamomile, and so on. Choose the herbs you wish to use and wash them in cold water. Place the herbs in a glass jar and cover it with 4 cups of distilled water. Put the lid on the jar. Let the tea steep in the sun for 2 to 4 hours. Remove it from the sunlight when the water has taken on a golden or green hue, depending on what herbs you’re using. Pour it into glasses and sweeten it with honey. Serve it iced.
Next time you make tea utilize the power of the sun to make sun tea.
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