Here in Texas, summer is officially here, and I know of a great way to help quench your thirst on hot days – sun tea!
Iced tea is one of my favorite beverages to drink, especially in summer. I love to try new flavors like mango, coconut, or raspberry. There’s a drive-through specialty tea shop nearby, and I know I’ll be visiting there a lot in the coming weeks, but nothing beats home-steeped sun tea.
The nostalgia of making sun tea takes me back to my childhood. It’s definitely a Texas and/or Southern specialty but let me know in the comments if sun tea is popular where you live.
Making sun tea is so easy. Here is a recipe from the Pioneer Woman written by Sommer Collier and posted online March 25, 2021:
“The kind of tea you use is entirely up to you. Traditional Southern iced tea is usually made with some sort of black tea blend, like Lipton or Luzianne. But feel free to explore and be creative here,” the author wrote. “If there’s anything I’ve learned about tea-making from my mother, it’s that the best iced teas often come from a random blend of whatever kind of tea bags you have lurking in your pantry. For instance, green tea, hibiscus tea, and peach tea blend together to make a marvelous fruity iced tea with a rich red color.”
The author continued: “First, fill a large, glass dispenser with water and add 8 tea bags per gallon, based on the size of your container. Once the tea bags are in the water, cover the dispenser and set it out in the sun. The amount of time it will take for the tea to steep in the sun is based on several factors:”
How hot is it outside?
What kind of tea are you using?
How large is your jug of tea?
How dark do you like your tea?
“A general timeframe is between 2-3 hours of sunshine. I’ve been known to bring mine in after just one hour on a really hot day,” the author said.
After the tea steeps, you can sweeten it any way you like once it’s the color and flavor you like. The author suggested using honey or agave, adding either of them ¼ cup at a time to taste. Then, lemon or lime slices (or both) can be added for citrus flavor and/or garnish.
I like to use the juice from canned fruit like pineapple to add to my sun tea. I pour the juice into an ice tray and freeze. Then, anytime I want a fruity, cold glass of tea, I’m good to go!