Want to make your own sun tea but aren’t sure if it’s safe? This is a delicious summer drink formula and also one of those great outdoor kid activity ideas, but there are some things you should know before boiling tea in this manner. Let’s see how to make sun tea!
What Is Sun Tea?
Sun tea is made in a warm environment, such as in the hot sun or a kitchen counter. Sun tea does not require boiling water, as some other iced tea techniques do; merely pour water and tea bags to a glass jar, let soak, and the tea is ready to use within hours. While the techniques to create sun tea are simple, some sun tea lovers claim the effects are superior to using cold brew tea bags.
Is Sun Tea Safe?
You might have heard about the perils of sun tea and wondered if they were true. Before we get into how to make sweet tea in the sun, let’s go over some crucial safety concerns, such as if sun tea is unsafe and how to make sun tea safely…
No, in some situations. While the 130° Fahrenheit temperature attained by sun-brewed tea is ideal for taste extraction, it is not high enough to eradicate microorganisms. Foods stored at temperatures ranging from 40 to 140°F are in the “danger zone,” a temperature range where bacteria can thrive and get you sick.
If you still want to prepare sun tea, ensure that you clean your container completely and disinfect your tea bags. To sanitize tea bags, place them in a shallow basin or cup and cover them with hot water for a few minutes. Then follow the sun tea instructions below.
Cold brew tea is the safest and simplest technique to create iced tea. Mix the water and tea bags and then let steep in the fridge overnight rather than in the sun; this avoids the chance of infection.
What is the distinction between sun tea and ordinary tea?
Sun tea is a tea that is warmed and steeped in a glass jar in the sun. Tea is traditionally made with heated water on the stovetop. They both use whichever tea you like. However, for safety concerns, black tea should be used for sun tea. So, How to make sun tea?
How To Make Sun Tea? Simple Sun Tea Recipe
Allowing tea to stay in the sun’s natural heat is a favorite brewing technique for tea enthusiasts in the spring and summer months. To be fair, the procedure is simple enough, and it’s oddly comforting to know that all you have to do is lay your tea leaves and water in a clean vase and let the sunlight do the rest.
That’s all there is to it; that’s how it’s made. As the heat works its magic, gradually painting the water with the varied colors and flavors of the tea, it becomes nostalgic and visually appealing. However, despite the thrill of creating something so simple, sun tea has had its day in science labs, and unfortunately, sun tea might pose a health danger.
How to make sun tea? According to scientists, tea boiled in the sun generates a breeding environment for bacteria, thus sun tea is not such a smart idea. Here’s what was discovered: The heat of the sun substitutes the heating element of the water heated in the kettle, however under any sun condition, the tea will only reach temperatures ranging from 102° to 130°, rather than the 170° to 200° required to steep tea.
The existence of Alcaligenes viscolactis, a stringy, rope-like bacteria, causes sun tea to seem thick or syrupy. These bacteria are often found in soil and water and should not be consumed.
That is our sweet conundrum in deciding whether or not to sun-brew; it still only gets hot enough to liberate some of the solids from dried leaves and petals (which explains our fondness for it), but not strong enough to be called a safe brewing method.
Even though the risk of being ill is low, there is still a chance that rope-like bacteria will breed in the tea. This is reason enough for many individuals to seek different methods of brewing tea. Many people are now limiting their tea-brewing practices to the home, opting to cold-brew it in the refrigerator instead. Tasty!
However, if sun tea may still be your thing and you intend to stick with it, there are certain actions you can do to limit the danger of germs in your sun tea:
- Use a container that has been well cleaned and sanitized.
- Choose distilled or boiling water, which will have destroyed any bacteria.
- Allow it to sit for a maximum of 4 hours.
- Refrigerate immediately after straining.
- Consume on the same day
There is also the cold brew option, which involves putting your tea in the refrigerator to brew rather than having it brew outside in the scorching sun. It’s roughly the same, except that you should let it chill overnight or for at least 8 to 12 hours. Because cold brew tea and sun tea do not release tannins and bitterness like hot water, they are smoother, more nuanced, and slightly sweeter.
In case you’re confused between iced tea and cold-brew tea, iced tea uses the standard hot brew procedure, whereas cold brew tea utilizes cold water.
How do you brew sun tea when there is no sun?
How to make sun tea? If the risks of making sun tea make you nervous, you can cold brew your tea in the refrigerator for the same outcomes as the sun tea recipe:
- Pour cups of water to a big glass jar or pitcher to produce the desired amount. (Record how many glasses of water you add.)
- Add one tea bag to one cup of water.
- Refrigerate the container for 3-5 hours. The tea would become stronger the longer you leave it.
- Before drinking, add mint, sugar, fruit, lemons, or whatever you choose to your tea.
- When not in use, keep refrigerated.
Is sun tea a southern tradition?
Sun tea is definitely popular in the southern states. On a warm summer day, sun tea was served on the porch while folks worked on the farm or went into work. Then it was finished by the end of the day. While it is not solely a southern tradition, sweet tea is widely consumed throughout the region. This is a recipe for Southern sun tea.
What temperature is required to produce sun tea?
One of require How to make sun tea most delicious, sun tea necessitates direct sunshine. Even in direct sunshine, it will never exceed 130 degrees Fahrenheit, making it ideal for bacteria breeding and growth. If you’re concerned about the cleanliness of sun tea, bring it to a fast boil after lying in the sun to help kill any bacteria.
Is it possible to prepare sun tea in a plastic container?
You might be asking if it’s possible to create sun tea in a plastic pitcher. You don’t need a costly vintage sun tea jar or an unique sun tea container for this recipe. Sun tea jugs can be made in any large glass jar with a cover.
You prefer to use glass instead of plastic due to glass aids the oxygenation process better than plastic. Furthermore, heating plastic might have negative implications such as the release of toxins from the plastic and may impair the taste of the tea.
How Do You Make Sun Tea – FAQs
How many tea bags for a gallon of tea?
One tea bag per cup is a good starting point. A gallon is equivalent to 16 cups (128 ounces). A teabag contains between 2 and 3 grams of tea. A gallon of tea requires around 28 grams of tea, therefore you would need 9-14 normal teabags for a gallon of tea, based on how strong you like it.
How to make iced tea with tea bags?
Bring 8 cups of water to a boil, then remove from the heat and add 3 teaspoons loose tea or 6 tea bags. Allow to steep for 4 minutes, or until the desired strength is reached. Separate the tea bags or strain the loose tea through a fine-mesh sieve. Allow to cool before transferring to a pitcher, covering, and refrigerating.
How to make iced tea with lipton tea bags?
In a heat-proof pitcher, pour 4 cups of boiling hot water over 2 teabags. Then set it aside for 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the teabags and season with sugar to taste. Stir in 6 cups of ice cubes or 4 cups of cold water until melted.
How much sugar to a gallon of tea?
In general, no more than two tablespoons of sugar should be added to tea. Not only is using more sugar unhealthy, but it will make your cup of tea overly sweet for most palates. A cup of tea containing more than two teaspoons of sugar is likely to taste very much like sugar than tea!
How to make a good tea?
Utilize 1 teaspoon of leaves per cup of tea for a full-flavored cup. It is critical to let the boiled water to cooldown for thirty seconds to 1 minute. Overheating the water scorches the leaves and makes the tea bitter.
Should you store sun tea in the refrigerator?
Bring your sun tea inside once it has finished baking in the sun and remove the tea bags. Then, refrigerate instantaneously until ready to use to help prevent bacteria growth.
Why is sun tea bad for you?
Besides question How to make sun tea, you might be wondering if sun tea might make you sick. The problem with sun tea is that it rarely gets hot enough just to kill bacteria, which thrive at temperatures ranging from 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, you should exercise caution when creating sun tea. Whereas the tea is in the sun, do not add sugar, slices of fruit, or citrus. Add the extras last so they don’t stimulate bacteria development.
Final Words about How to Make Sun Tea?
Old-school recipes like sun tea transport us to an era when modern comforts were not easily available. This method of preparing iced tea does not require the use of a kettle. Instead, it brews the drink with the power of the sun. However, there is a catch if you want to make sun tea today. This nostalgic drink, like a few of Grandma’s recipes, poses a food-safety danger. So think about it thoroughly.
Hope that the above article helps you find the best answer to the question of how to make sun tea.
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