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Square shot of two mason jars full of southern sweet sun tea.
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Sun Tea Recipe

Learn how to make sun tea -- just like Grandma's!
Course Drinks
Cuisine American, Southern
Keyword how to make sun tea, sun tea, sun tea recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Resting Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings 8 cups
Calories 0.003kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • ½ gallon (8 cups) water (use filtered or distilled water for safety)
  • 2 family-size tea bags (I use Luzianne brand)
  • Optional: sugar, honey, agave, or simple syrup to sweeten to taste
  • Optional, for serving: ice; lemon wedges; mint leaves

Instructions

  • Place water in a glass pitcher or half-gallon mason jar. Add the tea bags and cover with a lid. Set the pitcher in the hot sun.
    Process shot showing how to make sun tea
  • Let the tea steep for 1-4 hours, until it reaches the desired strength.
    Pitcher of sun tea on a picnic table.
  • Add sweetener to taste, and then shake and stir to dissolve. For just a hint of sweetness, start with ¼ cup of sugar. For a sweeter tea, use ½ cup of sweetener (or more).
    Pouring sugar into a pitcher of sun tea
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh lemon wedges or mint leaves.
    Shot of glasses of sun tea on a wooden table.

Notes

    • Use filtered or distilled water to avoid any potential bacteria in tap water.
    • Check the tea regularly as it's sitting in the sun. On a hot day, it may be ready in as little as 1 hour.
    • Do not leave the tea out in the sun for more than 4 hours.
    • Wait to add the sweetener (or other garnishes) at the end. You can use a simple syrup, honey, agave, or granulated sugar.
    • Refrigerate the tea as soon as it's done steeping.
    • Garnish individual glasses to suit your taste. Try fresh mint leaves, fresh basil, fresh lemon slices, berries, or a splash of lemonade.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup unsweetened | Calories: 0.003kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.001g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 0.1mg | Calcium: 7mg