Taste the sunshine with refreshing Homemade Sun Tea. It’s easy, with only a minute of prep!
Friends, when I first lived in the South, my new bestie Rachel kept talking about making up some Sun Tea. What the heck was that? Turns out it’s the BEST iced tea I’ve ever had. Warmed by the sun, the tea permeates the water and slowly…and I mean slowly…to make the smoothest, most delicious tea EVER. It’s honest to goodness brewed tea, just brewed by the warmth of the sun and not with boiling water. If you’ve never had it, you’ve got to give it a try.
Sometimes I add sugar or orange simple syrup to make sweet tea. When I’m watching calories, no-calorie sweetener like erythritol is the way to go, but either way it’s thirst-quenching goodness. Just right for sipping on the porch and watching the world go by.
?TIP – If you’re able to, sit your jar on a surface like stone or concrete that will warm in the sun. It helps to warm up the jar and will “brew” the tea faster than if you sit the jar on grass or on wood.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SUN TEA
If your looking for an AWESOME and budget-friendly beverage that you can make by the gallon for pennies, this is it. No special ingredients are needed, just tea bags and water. How easy is that?
- Fill up a large glass jar with water, filtered water if you have it.
- Hang the teabags over the side and close the lid. Make sure the tea is floating in the water. (I use 8 teabags for a gallon jar, and 5 – 6 teabags for a half-gallon jar.)
- Set the jar where it will get direct sun and let it sit for 5 – 6 hours, or more, until the tea is brewed to the flavor and color you like.
- Take the jar inside, stir in desired sweetener and refrigerate until serving. Serve over lots of ice. Add a garnish of lemon or fruit to make it extra tasty.
Homemade Sun Tea
Ingredients
- 6 – 8 bags black tea
- 1 gallon water filtered is best
- 1 cup sugar or preferred sweetener
- lemon slices and strawberries to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pour water into one gallon container with lid.. Lay tea bags across the rim of container so tea bags are floating in the water. Cover with lid, using lid to secure tea bags at the top.
- Set container outside in direct sun for 5 – 6 hours, until tea has brewed to your tastes.
- Bring inside and add sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Serve over ice.
- Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Chef Tips
Equipment Used
Nutrition Facts
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Hi Susan, I love it when my readers share their own methods for making a similar recipe. Your juice jug idea is great for making a smaller amount of this delicious tea! Thanks for sharing!
I have a 5 cup empty juice jug that I use for Sun tea. I use 3 tea bags. The ratio of tea to water is about the same as your recipe. It really does make the perfect tea. Not too strong, definitely not weak! Everyone who enjoys iced tea should try this method.