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Sun tea is definitely one of the less recognized types of tea in the world, but is truly delicious and offers a variety of health benefits, just like any other tea. Basically sun tea is the most natural tea, because you use the natural and gentle heat of the sun to brew the tea, rather than using a kettle and stovetop.

Making Sun Tea

In order to make your own sun tea, you simply need to fill a clear glass jar or jug almost to the top with water. The amount of water that you should use will of course vary, depending on how much tea you want to make.

Next you need to add tea bags or loose tea, whichever you prefer, and place the jar or jug in a sunny location, preferably a window, and leave the tea to steep in the heat of the sun. The length of time that you will have to leave the mixture to steep will vary depending on how strong you want the mixture and how brightly the sun is shining.

The best idea is to frequently rotate the container, so that all the mixture gets equally heated by the sun. Once the tea mixture has reached your desired strength and flavor, all you need to do is serve it and enjoy.

Sun tea is often more delicious and healthy than any other tea, namely because the low temperature used to heat it is not as likely to destroy the delicate oils and flavors of your tea. The final tea will not be nearly as hot as tea that you have made with boiling water, and thus makes for great iced tea.

Controversy

As with any number of things, there has been a certain amount of controversy over the method used in the making of this tea. Some believe that using the sun to heat tea is a method that should actually be discouraged. This particular type of tea is considered by some as the perfect medium for bacteria to grow, and if the tea has a thick or syrupy appearance, then it most likely is due to the presence of a ropy bacteria known as Alcaligenes viscolactis.

The Centers for Disease Control and the National Tea Association have both responded to this controversy, and recommended the following when brewing tea: brew tea bags at 195?F for 3-5 minutes, brew only the amount of tea that can be consumed within a few hours, never maintain brewed tea for more than eight hours at room temperature, and store all tea bags in a dark and cool place away from any strong odors and moisture. By following these procedures you can enjoy a delicious ? and safe ? glass of sun tea.