How to Make Sun Tea and Cold Brew Tea

Iced Tea that is styled with a sprig of a green herb. There are roses in the background.

As the heat rises, I am searching for every way to stay cool. My favorite way is to brew tea and to enjoy it over ice. In the Spring and Summer, there are 2 great, lazy ways to brew tea: Cold Brew and Sun Brew. And as a bonus, each of these 2 methods add a different energy signature to your tea which results in a slightly different flavor.  Try both and see which one is your favorite!

What tea should you use?

There are so many combinations of tea that are perfect for a refreshing afternoon. You could make some out of Green Tea, Rooibos, Oolong, or regular Black Tea. I typically use Hibiscus Heaven teabags. Why hibiscus? Hibiscus has a great flavor and other benefits that we’ve written about before. 

Tangy Hibiscus-Lime Iced Tea Recipe - Melissa Rubel Jacobson | Food & WineFirst Method: Cold Brew

  1. Use 6 tea bags of Hibiscus Heaven (or tea of your choice) in 2 liters of water. 
  2. Let this mixture sit overnight in your fridge. The longer you let it sit, the stronger it will be. Once your tea has brewed, add sweetener to taste.

It really doesn’t get any easier than that!

Second Method: Sun Tea

  1. Use 8 to 12 tea bags of Hibiscus Heaven (or tea of your choice) in 2 liters over water. Feel free to add lemon slices or mint to brew with your tea. Make sure that the pitcher you use has a top on it. 
  2. Find a directly sunny spot and leave your pitcher (with its top on) for 4 to 6 hours. Once your tea has brewed, add sweetener to taste. Refrigerate or pour over ice to enjoy!

Note: Change the amount of tea bags if you want to use a smaller container. I typically use 4 tea bags for every liter (4 cups). If you want to make a smaller amount, I follow Pickle Jar Studio’s Sun Tea Brewing Guide.

An ice-cold, refreshing cup of tea is truly a reward on a hot day or after a day’s work in the yard. Tag us on Instagram and Facebook (@Ravenmoonemporium) so we can see what kind of tea you made!

sun tea guide for tea bags // picklejarstudios.com