American · Drinks

Sun Tea

Tea bags steeped in a jar of cold water in the sun for three hours, then chilled and served over ice.

5 min prep and cooking plus 3 hr Steeping in the sun 3 hr 5 min start to finish Serves 6 servings Easy
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Sun Tea

Photograph credit: NCI iced tea by Renee Comet (photographer) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

How to Make Sun Tea

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  1. Fill a clean glass jar with the cold water and add the tea bags.

  2. Put the lid on and leave the jar in full sun for 3 hours.

  3. Remove the tea bags and chill the tea in the fridge straight away. Stir in the sugar if using.

  4. Serve over ice with lemon slices.

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Tips for Making Sun Tea

  • Use a very clean jar.
  • Do not steep for longer than 3 hours.
  • Refrigerate at once.
  • Throw it away if it looks cloudy.

What to Serve with Sun Tea

  • Sandwiches
  • Barbecue
  • Cornbread
  • Fresh peaches

Keeping and Reheating

Keeps in the fridge for 1 day.

Sun Tea FAQ: Common Questions

How long does Sun Tea take to make?

5 minutes of preparation and of cooking, plus 3 hours of Steeping in the sun, so allow 3 hours 5 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 6.

What's in a Serving

Per serving, an approximate calculation from the ingredient list. Treat it as a rough guide: optional ingredients are counted. How the figures are worked out.

20Calories
0gProtein
5gCarbs
0gFat
0gFibre
4gSugar
5mgSodium

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Compiled by Turab

Checked by script for timings, diet labels and nutrition arithmetic. How the recipes are checked. Found a mistake? Tell us.

First published ; last changed .