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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 long does it take sun tea to make?
Put 4 to 8 tea bags into a clean 2 quart or gallon glass container (4 teabags for a 2-quart container, 8 tea bags for a gallon container). Fill with water and cap. Place in sun: Place outside where the sunlight can strike the container for about 3 to 5 hours.
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 have 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 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.
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.
How does sun tea brew?
The idea with sun tea is simple: place tea bags (or loose tea) in a glass container filled with water and set it in direct sunlight. The story is that the heat of the sun makes tea extraction faster, giving you ready-to-drink tea within a couple hours without the need to heat up water indoors.
How long should you let tea brew?
Tea needs time to unlock all its flavour, so give it 4-5 minutes to do its thing. This is a perfect time to munch a sneaky biscuit or daydream about holidays.
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.
What’s the best tea for sun tea?
Sun tea is traditionally made using black tea such as Lipton or Luzianne. For your homemade sun tea, you can use any black tea you like or opt for herbal teas instead. The tea is often sweetened using sugar cane or brightened up with the addition of fruit.
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.
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.
Why should you not squeeze a tea bag?
Squeezing Out Tea Bags Because of the high levels of tannic acid in tea, you’re actually making the tea more bitter. It’s not only weakening the taste, but it’s also wearing the strength of the tea bags itself. By squeezing it, you run the risk of tearing the bag and releasing some of the tea leaves into your cup.
Can sun tea be made in 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.
How long does sun tea last unrefrigerated?
The short answer is, don’t store tea for more than 8 hours at room temperature. If you left your tea out at room temperature overnight or longer than 8 hours, it would be best to discard it. It’s not worth the risk if tea is left out overnight.
