How to Make Sun Tea | Summer Drink Ideas
Delicious Sun Tea Ideas for Summer
When the nights grow shorter and the days grow hotter my mind turns to tea. Nothing is more refreshing on a summer day than an ice cold glass of tea, sweetened just right. And the best sort of tea to have is Sun Tea.
Easy to make, easier to drink.
You don't have to limit yourself to run-of-the-mill ordinary tea either. These are some of my favourite warm weather summer time sun tea drinks.
Choosing the Best Sun Tea Jar
Glass or Plastic
There are a wide range of jars and jugs available for making sun tea these days. Most carefully labelled so that you know what it is, and some with a little spigot at the bottom even so you don't have to tip the jar. Most of these special jugs are made of a clear plastic.
I believe you need two things in a jar to make a good sun tea. It needs to be made of glass, and it needs to have a tight fitting lid. Tea in glass jars just tastes better. The tight fitting lid keeps uninvited guests out.
I recommend staying away from the jugs with built in spigots because these are incredibly difficult to keep clean. This makes a ripe breeding ground for bacteria which are going to make your next batch of tea taste not so great.
A Perfect Jug for Making Sun Tea
Canning Jars Are Ideal for Brewing Sun Tea
They're easy to clean, have a tight fitting lid, and fit nicely on a shelf in the fridge. Best of all, you can usually buy them in multi-packs, meaning that you can have a quart or two of tea in the fridge for drinking, and another quart or two brewing for the next day.
Black tea and peppermint
I first experienced the combination of black tea and mint last summer. These are two strong flavours that really go well together. Brew this and add a bit of sugar to your liking, then sit back and enjoy a refreshing drink.
Ingredients
- 2 black tea bags
- 2 peppermint tea bags
- 1 quart water
- sugar to taste
Instructions
- Fill a quart jar with water.
- Add two black tea bags and either 2 peppermint tea bags, or a handful of fresh mint leaves.
- Cover with a lid.
- Place in the full sun and leave to brew for 2 - 3 hours.
- Transfer to another jug if you'd like to start another jar of tea brewing, add enough sugar to sweeten it to your liking, and place in the fridge until you're ready to serve. (In our house, that's about 30 seconds.)
- Pour over ice into a tall tea glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint if desired.
- And enjoy.
Herbal Sun Tea - Cooling and refreshing
Herbal teas are ideal for brewing up a delicious sun tea. Mint is especially ideal but don't limit yourself. Pull out your favourite herbal teas and give them a try.
This is one of my favourites. 
Ingredients
- 4 tea bags - Cinnamon Apple Spice
- 1 quart water
- sugar or honey to taste
Instructions
- Place the tea bags in a quart jar and pour over water to fill.
- Place the jar in direct sunlight for 2 - 3 hours.
- Transfer to a pouring jug, if desired. Sweeten to taste.
- Pour over crushed ice and enjoy.
How Do You Like Your Tea?
Some say it's better to have a cold drink on a hot day, others claim it's better to drink something hot.
But what's your preference?
