Table of Contents
Place jar in direct sunshine. Steep tea for 3 to 4 hours (do not exceed 4 hours) Remove tea bags. Sweeten warm tea, if desired (do not add sweetener until steeping is finished).
How do you know when sun tea is done?
Place in sun: Place outside where the sunlight can strike the container for about 3 to 5 hours. Move the container if necessary to keep it in the sun. When the tea has reached its desired strength, remove from sun and put it in the refrigerator.
Can you brew sun tea too long?
Once used, throw the tea leaves away – they cannot be re-steeped. Do not leave the tea to brew in the sun for longer than 4 hours. Prepare only the amount of tea you plan to consume in that same day. Refrigerate the tea as soon as it is ready and keep it refrigerated.
Can sun tea make you sick?
If sun tea gets a thick or syrupy appearance, it’s because of the presence of Alcaligenes viscolactis, a stringy, rope-like bacterium. Even though the risk of getting sick from it is low, there is still a possibility of rope-like bacteria breeding in the tea.
How warm does it need to be to make sun tea?
Quick science lesson: Bacteria loves conditions between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit — known in food preparation as “the danger zone.” Making sun tea the traditional way, in full sun heat, will only bring the water to about 130 degrees F — prime bacteria-growing conditions!.
Can you make sun tea without sun?
Step 1: Combine cold water and tea in a glass or plastic pitcher at a ratio of 1 tea bag per cup of water. Step 2: Place the pitcher in the fridge, not out in the sun. The flavor in the end is better, and it’s safer to drink. Step 3: Wait 5 hours (more or less depending on how strong you like it).
Is sun tea healthier than brewed tea?
According to the The Centers for Disease Control “the practice of making ‘sun tea’ by steeping tea bags in a container of water in the sun may be a higher theoretical risk than brewing tea at higher temperatures because it provides an environment where bacteria are more likely to survive and multiply.” Tea steeped in a Aug 9, 2017.
What are the benefits of sun tea?
Not only is it a popular homemade beverage, but sun tea also has loads of health benefits. Tea is chock full of antioxidants and flavonoids, which can help decrease your risk of heart attack and diabetes. Plus, sun tea is a breeze to prepare; in fact, the sun does much of the work for you.
How long should tea bag steep?
Place a tea bag in your favorite cup or mug. Bring water to a rolling boil and immediately pour over your tea bag. Steep for a good 3 to 5 minutes. (Great taste can’t be rushed—it really does take the full time to release the tea’s entire flavor.).
Why is sun tea unsafe?
The biggest issue with sun tea is bacteria. Warm, damp spots, like a jar filled with water and tea leaves and placed in the sun, can be a breeding ground for unhealthy bacteria – especially if sugar is added to the sun tea while it is steeping.
Why is my sun tea cloudy?
One of the main causes of cloudy tea is that the particles in your tea separated. When tea is hot, the microscopic particles spin and the heat keeps them together. As the temperature cools down, the particles stop spinning and separate, and with nowhere to go, they hang out, causing the tea to cloud up.
What bacteria grows in tea?
Tea leaves may be contaminated with coliform bacteria. If iced tea is brewed at inadequate temperatures or in an improperly cleaned urn, or if it is stored for too long, it may grow coliform bacteria, most frequently Klebsiella and Enterobacter, and less commonly E. coli.
How do you make sun tea safe?
If you’re concerned about the safety of brewing sun tea, you can place the tea in a jar of cold water and put it in the refrigerator overnight. This cold-brewed iced tea is a safe way to brew herbal iced teas with no danger of bacteria overgrowth.
How long can you store sun tea?
But you should be safe to use a steeping time of four hours or less, Schaffner says. Remember that a good rule of thumb with any leftovers—including sun tea stored in the refrigerator—would be to consume within three days max. Ideally, your best safety bet is to stick to cold brew tea, regular iced tea, or hot tea.
Can I make sun tea in the winter?
Sun tea can be made anytime of year, as long as you have sunshine (duh). Here in the San Francisco area, September and October typically brings sunny, warm weather before the rains (hopefully) begin their onslaught in November, making it a great time to set a big jar of water with tea bags out on the back deck.
