Make delicious Herbal Sun Tea at home, a refreshing beverage that is bursting with flavor. Sun tea is the perfect companion for warm days and lazy afternoons.

a tall glass of sun tea with ice and a lemon wedge flowers and large mason jar with tea in background

Discover the simple joys of making sun tea at home. With just a few ingredients and some sunshine, you can create a refreshing beverage that is bursting with flavor.

Raised in the Midwest, sun tea was a big part of our family gatherings. Picnics in the backyard on nice summer days barbecues around the pool, and brewing sun tea were all a part of the preparation for a fun day in the sun.

Homemade sun tea is the perfect companion on those hot summer days and lazy afternoons with friends and family, and this Herbal Sun Tea recipe is so refreshing, that making it will soon become your new favorite summer tradition.

So let me show you how to make the perfect batch of sun tea using just a few kitchen tools and ingredients.

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Handy Kitchen Tools Needed To Make Herbal Sun Tea

Clear glass jar. You do not need too many things when making sun tea at home. Basically, the only piece of kitchen equipment you need is a large glass container to hold the tea. Personally, I like to use a large, one-half-gallon, mason jar.

ProTip: Plastic containers will also do the trick but I don’t recommend them as a sun tea container. They can leach toxins and chemicals into your tea, especially because we will be placing the container outside in direct sunlight. The heat of the sun will warm the plastic making it even more prone to leaching.

Tea filter. Although you can easily place the tea leaves directly into the water, you may want to use a tea filter, something to hold your loose tea while it steeps. This makes it easier so you don’t have to strain your sun tea later on.

Herbal Sun Tea Ingredients Needed

Loose-leaf tea. In this recipe, I am using organic peach tea but frankly, you can use any kind of loose tea you desire.

loose leaf herbal tea in small glass jar tablespoon holding dry tea tea filter on side mason jar in background

Sweetener. Depending on your personal preference, you can use a variety of sweeteners such as honey, maple or date syrup, monkfruit, stevia, or just plain granulated white sugar.

optional ingredients you may want to consider

Fresh Fruits. Using orange, lime, or lemon slices makes for a wonderful addition to herbal sun tea.

Fresh Mint. Placing fresh herbs, like a few mint leaves, into a delicious glass of sweet sun tea is like the cherry on top of a bowl of ice cream – perfection!

How To Make Herbal Sun Tea: Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1. Fill your large glass dispenser with 8 cups of filtered water.

Step 2. Measure 4 tablespoons of dry tea leaves and add it to the tea filter OR directly to the glass pitcher if you are not using a tea filter.

dawn using a measuring spoon to put dry tea leaves in a tea filter large mason jar with water in the background

If using the tea filter, gently place it in the water. You can gently stir or sway the tea filter back and forth if you wish but it isn’t necessary.

Step 3. Place the cover on your glass jar and place it outside in a bright sunny spot.

ProTip: I like to place mine on my back porch in the hot sun but be aware that you may need to move it a time or two to ensure the sun’s rays continue to shine on your sun tea. The main brewing process is the power of the sun and high temperatures.

Step 4. Steep tea is the easy part. Let it steep in the direct sun for 2-3 hours. Woo hoo!

The time it takes for your sun tea to reach a rich flavor will depend on several factors such as the type of tea you are using, the time of year and how hot it is outside, as well as what time of day you are placing your tea in the sun.

This will take a bit of experimentation but enjoy the process. You will find the perfect ratio of tea and duration in no time.

ProTip: If you keep your tea out in the sun for a very long time it will get quite strong, however, there is also a “too much of a good thing” scenario. If you keep your sun tea out in the hot sun for too long, it can give it a bitter taste and put it at risk for bacterial growth.

large mason jar steeping tea on a wicker table outside flowers and chair in background

From a food safety perspective, it is best to let your tea steep in the sun for only a couple of hours and then bring it inside to refrigerate.

Step 5. After steeping, and once you feel like you have reached your desired tea complexity as far as color and flavor, take your tea out of the sun and bring it inside.

Step 6. Remove the tea filter, or strain your tea into another large container.

ProTip: If you strain your sun tea by pouring it into another container, once it’s strained and all of the tea leaves are removed, you can pour it back into the original glass container.

large mason jar with brewed sun tea sitting on a table outside in the sunshine

Step 7. Now, if desired, you can sweeten and flavor your delicious sun tea. I like to use pure maple syrup to sweeten my tea, but you can use any sweetener.

ProTip: If you want to make it low-calorie, and low-glycemic, consider using a plant-based alternative sweetener such as monkfruit or stevia. However, start sparingly as these sweeteners are condensed and much sweeter. A little goes a long way.

Step 8. Once you have your sun tea flavored the way you like it, place it in the fridge to chill completely. There is nothing like cold, refreshing, delicious tea.

Preparing A Delicious Glass Of Iced Herbal Sun Tea

Here is the best way to serve up a delicious glass of sun-iced tea.

Fill a tall drinking glass with as many ice cubes as possible.
Pour Herbal Sun Tea over the ice to the very top.
Slice up a lemon. Squeeze a slice or two directly into the glass. Then place another slice of lemon onto the rim of the glass for decoration.
Add a few sprigs of mint for flavor and garnish.
Slowly sip and savor the moment. ENJOY!

how to make herbal sun tea an easy homemade recipe glass of sun tea with lemon and ice

How To Store

Because sun tea is naturally brewed outside in the warmth of the sun, versus using boiling water, it can be more prone to bacteria and spoiling sooner.

I recommend always storing your sun tea in the refrigerator, and consuming your tea within a couple of days.

This is why I make a smaller batch for this recipe, something that can be consumed within 24-48 hours.

That said, it is perfectly okay to double this batch if you are preparing sun tea for a larger gathering.

What Is The Best Tea For Sun Tea?

The best kind of tea to use for sun tea is the one that you will drink and enjoy. It is really that simple but let’s get into the tea flavor varieties just for fun.

Black Tea

Black tea is what we used growing up in Wisconsin but it wasn’t a delicious, high-quality, organic, black tea like an Earl Grey with Bergamot. Nope, we usually used simple Lipton black tea bags.

Black tea provides a strong, slightly astringent, taste which actually is perfect for traditional sun tea. It can be the backdrop for a lot of different herbal fruit tea flavors.

Green Tea

Green tea is probably one of my favorite teas to drink – both hot or cold. There are some tremendous health benefits to green tea but besides that, if you get a good quality tea, green tea tastes terrific.

Green tea provides a lighter, more delicate flavor than black tea. You still get those earthy notes but with just a hint of a light and subtle grassy flavor. Green tea is a refreshing choice for those who prefer a milder taste.

large glass of sun tea with mason jar, flowers, sliced lemons in the background

Herbal Teas

Herbal teas, such as hibiscus, lemon verbena, or peach, infuse the tea with a vibrant, citrusy flavor that can be refreshing and flavorful.

Herbal teas give off a beautiful aroma, and they are naturally caffeine-free. Great for both a soothing and refereshing drink.

Health Benefits Of Drinking Tea

Drinking tea not only tastes wonderful but there are also some great health benefits.

Tea contains flavonoids which are antioxidants, and they can help reduce inflammation, and lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Green tea, in particular, has been associated with a reduced risk of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer and potentially ovarian and endometrial cancer.

Green tea also lowers body fat, blood pressure, and cholesterol, and can protects us from potential stroke and cognitive decline.

large mason jar filled with herbal sun tea sitting on a table outside with a vase of flowers in the background

Capture The Essence Of Summer With Sun Tea

Making this Herbal Sun Tea recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy the sunny days of summer.

Whether you prefer a bold black tea, the gentle notes of green tea, or the fragrant charm of herbal teas, experiment and find your perfect blend.

Enjoy the simple pleasures of making sun tea at home, and share it with your family and friends for a truly special warm sunny day treat.

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Let’s Connect

I hope you find this article helpful. What is your favorite type of tea to use for making sun tea?

Let me know in the comment section below, and please consider giving this recipe a 5-star rating. I read every comment and respond promptly. Let me hear from you!

Printable Recipe Card

Prep Time:5

Steep Time:2

Total Time:2 5

Equipment

Clean glass Jar – 64 ounce
tea filter – optional but prevents you from having to strain the tea afterward

Ingredients

4 tbsp loose-leaf-tea – in this recipe I am using peach tea
64 ounces filtered water
sweetener (optional) – honey, maple syrup, date syrup, monkfruit, stevia
lemon slices (optional)
fresh mint (optional)

Instructions

Fill a large glass dispenser with 8 cups of filtered water.
Measure 4Tb of dry tea leaves and add it to the tea filter.
NOTE: If you are not using a tea filter, add the tea directly to the filtered water.
Place the tea filter into the water and put the cover onto the glass jar.
Place the jar outside in a bright sunny spot. Let steep for 2-3 hours.
After steeping, and once you feel the tea has reached your desired complexity, take the tea out of the sun and bring it inside.
Remove the tea filter.
NOTE: If you are not using a tea filter, strain the tea into a large container, and once strained, pour the tea back into the original glass container.
Sweeten and flavor the sun tea as desired. ENJOY!

Notes

Steep the tea in a bright sunny spot. You may have to move it a time or two to keep the sun’s rays shining directly onto the tea.
The time it takes for your sun tea to reach a rich flavor depends on the type of tea you are using, the time of year, and how hot it is outside. This will be a bit of experimentation but enjoy the process.
Do not keep your sun tea in the sun longer than 2-3 hours as it can become too bitter and be more prone to bacterial growth.
If you want your sun tea low-calorie and low-glycemic, consider using a plant-based alternative sweetener such as monkfruit or stevia. Use sparingly and a little goes a long way.
Store your sun tea in the refrigerator, and consume it within a couple of days.
It is perfectly okay to double this recipe if you are preparing for a larger party or gathering.

Nutrition

Servings: servings

Calories: 0.1kcal

How To Make Herbal Sun Tea (Easy Homemade Recipe)