Use the Power of the Sun to Supercharge Your Tea

☀️ Sun Tea ☀️

There is nothing like a warm cup of tea, especially in the winter months. However, what if I told you there is a different way to experience your favorite teas? Instead of heating up your tea kettle, you could simply leave a glass out on the windowsill during a sunny day? Enter sun tea.

Sun tea has been around for ages, and is especially popular in the Southern US where sunshine is generally plentiful and sweet tea is the drink of choice for many. To make milder sweet tea, fans use the sun’s rays to slowly brew black tea. This method avoids the bitterness that can come from brewing black tea using hot water.

What Are Some of the Benefits?

Even if you are not mixing up a batch of good ole Southern sweet tea, sun-brewed tea can also be a great way to enjoy teas with delicate floral or fruit components that may be overpowered by traditional brewing. You can also infuse your tea with yummy fresh fruit or herbs. The gentle brewing of the sun infuses the water with flavor without “cooking” the ingredients in boiling water. I added fresh slices of lemon to my most recent batch.

It can take a few hours to fully brew, depending on the strength of the sun, but the unique flavor is worth it. Because the tea is prepared using room-temperature water, it is best to consume it the day it is made. Storing it for long periods of time can result in bacteria growth.

I recently received some Sakara Life Youth + Beauty Tea, which I have been using for my sun tea. I like it hot as well, but I really enjoy using solar power to brew it. The less-intense brewing process keeps the tea really fruity and light. I am also a fan of making tea using fresh mint. Sun tea is a great way to preserve the light flavor and the aesthetic appeal of the beautiful green mint leaves in your glass.