
With the temperatures reaching into the low 90s this past weekend, it was time to make the first sun tea of the year. I prefer to make sun tea in a half gallon glass mason jar. That way I don’t have to worry about anything leaching out of a plastic jug as the tea steeps in the sun.
All that is needed to make sun tea is a few tea bags and a sunny spot. The tea can be put out in the sun and left for hours until the evening shade begins to cover the tea.

The recipe below is one of my favorites, but this is something that should be experimented with until you get it just right. You can add an extra black tea bag or replace the mint tea with jasmine green tea or whatever you prefer. Fresh mint makes a great addition if you have it available. You can even make more than one jar at a time and compare the results.
My favorite kind of black tea to use for sun tea is Irish Breakfast Tea. In particular, Bewley’s Irish Breakfast Tea. This tea is strong and has a great flavor. Also, the tea bags have no strings or metal staples. I get mine from the local Woodman’s. It is also available from Amazon.
- 4 black tea bags
- 1 mint tea bag
- ½ gallon of water
- ½ gallon mason jar
- Fill mason jar with water.
- Add tea bags.
- Set out in sun for four hours or until shade overtakes mason jar.
- Remove tea bags to compost pile.
- Refrigerate or serve over ice for great tasting ice tea.
Do you have a favorite recipe for sun tea? Tell me about it in the comments section below.