How to Make a Sun Tea Jar

Any large sealing glass jar can be prepared for use as a safe sun tea jar. Sun tea is a popular summertime drink that takes advantage of the heat from the sun. Making sun tea is the natural process of slowly infusing water with tea flavor. Temperatures inside a sun tea jar can create an environment that is ideal for bacteria. A few simple precautions will help you avoid bacterial growth in your sun tea infusion.

Things You'll Need

• Large stockpot
• Running water
• Stove
• Tongs
• 3 or 4 tea bags

Instructions

1. Fill a large stockpot with water from the faucet and place it on the stove over high heat.

2. Lower a large glass jar and its lid into the stockpot carefully when the water reaches a rapid boil.

3. Remove the lid and jar from the boiling water with clean tongs after they have boiled for at least 20 minutes.

4. Fill the clean glass jar with purified water and drop in three or four tea bags with their strings removed.

5. Seal the jar tightly with the clean lid and place it in a sunny spot on your porch or patio.

Tips & Warnings

• Sun tea jars with spigots near the base often leak and build up bacteria over time. Pour brewed tea out through the top of your jar and into a pitcher for refrigerator storage and easy dispensing.

• Look for cloudiness in tea once it has fully cooled and settled. This may be a sign of bacterial growth and the tea should be discarded.

References

• Learn About Tea: Sun Tea
• Clean Soul Clean Body: Recipe: Sun Tea