How to Safely Make Homemade Iced Sun Tea Recipe

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Join me in making the perfect summertime beverage—refreshing, hydrating, and infused with essential minerals. Whether you’re a fan of classic black tea, sweet tea, or herbal blends, this sun tea recipe is a great way to cool down on a hot day. With just a few simple steps and a few safety tips, you can easily prepare a delicious batch of sun tea for the whole family to enjoy.

What is Sun Tea?

Sun tea is a traditional method of brewing tea using direct sunlight instead of boiling water. It’s as simple as placing tea bags in a clear, glass container of water and letting it steep under the sun for a few hours. This slow, gentle infusion creates a smooth, mellow flavor that’s perfect for summer sipping. Popular variations include black tea, herbal blends like mint or chamomile, or fruity combinations with added citrus or berries.

Health Benefits of Sun Tea

One of the main draws of sun tea is how refreshing and light it tastes, making it ideal for hot weather. It’s also a great way to stay hydrated, especially when you add electrolyte-rich ingredients like a pinch of sea salt, cucumber, or mineral drops. Unlike sugary sodas or artificially flavored drinks, sun tea is a natural, refreshing and clean option. Unlike most pre-made teas bought at the store, when making sun tea, you get to control the ingredients, so you can ensure it is organic, artificial and processed sugar free, dye free and preservative free. Plus, herbal varieties can offer additional wellness benefits, such as calming effects from chamomile, digestive support from ginger or peppermint or increased mineral intake from stinging nettle.

How to Make Sun Tea Safely

While sun tea is beloved for its simplicity, it’s important to brew it safely. Since the water doesn’t reach boiling temperatures, there’s a risk of bacterial growth, especially from harmful organisms that thrive at warm temperature, but there are many practices you can do to make sun tea safe to drink. I have made sun tea the past few summers and have never had any issues. To reduce any risk:

• Use a clean, sanitized glass container with a lid
• Start with filtered or purified water
• If adding fresh herbs, wash thoroughly and place in water
• Add organic tea bags if desired
• Do not add sugar to sun tea until after it has cooled in the refrigerator
• Steep tea in direct sunlight for no more than 3–4 hours
• Once brewed, remove the tea bags, herbs and refrigerate immediately
• Consume within a few days for best taste and safety

To make sun tea, start by filling a clean, one-gallon glass container with filtered water. Add your desired number of tea bags depending on how strong you like your brew—I used six in total, combining three chamomile and three nettle for a soothing, mineral-rich blend. Next, select about one cup of fresh herbs, wash them thoroughly, and add them to the jar with the tea bags. Place the container in a sunny spot outdoors and let it steep for 3 to 4 hours. Once the tea is infused, use a mesh strainer to remove the herbs and tea bags, or leave them in a bit longer for a stronger brew. Transfer the tea to the refrigerator to cool immediately. Once chilled, serve over ice and enjoy!

Ingredients, Fresh Herbs and Additions to Add to Sun Tea

In this sun tea recipe I use a mix of premade tea bags and fresh herbs. You can use black tea bags or herbal tea bags. I chose a mix of chamomile and nettle tea bags, then added fresh lemon balm and mint. Herbs can add both flavor and wellness benefits to your sun tea, making it a more enjoyable and healthy beverage. My favorite choices include:

• mint, adds a refreshing, cooling taste and may help with digestion
• lemon balm, known for its calming properties
• chamomile, a gentle herb that promotes relaxation
• lavender, has floral notes and is soothing for stress
• rosemary or thyme can give your tea an earthy twist with subtle antimicrobial benefits

You can use these herbs fresh or dried, either on their own or paired with traditional tea bags for a custom blend, like I did in this recipe. Just be sure to wash fresh herbs thoroughly before adding them to your jar. Other ingredients you can add to your sun tea after it has brewed include:

• cucumber slices, add a refreshing and cooling taste and aids in hydration
• fresh berries, add sweetness and antioxidants
• fresh or frozen peach slices, add sweetness and are so good on a hot day
• lemon slices or juice, adds a pop of acidity and freshness along with vitamin C
• raw honey, adds minerals and sweetness (pair with lemon for an Arnold Palmer vibe)

When to Enjoy Sun Tea

Sun tea is great at any time but I love to enjoy a refreshing glass in the afternoon. Especially if you have spent the day in the sun, enjoying a glass on the porch while taking a break, is a great way to relax and replenish mineral stores that may have been lost throughout the day.

FAQ’s

Is it safe to make sun tea? Yes, if you follow clean practices and do not steep your tea for too long it should be safe to make sun tea.

How to prevent bacteria in sun tea? To prevent bacteria in sun tea, wash your hands, make sure the jar is clean, wash herbs thoroughly, do not steep the tea for longer than 3-4 hours and refrigerator immediately after brewing.

Should sun tea be refrigerated? Yes, to prevent harmful bacteria from growing refrigerate sun tea immediately after it has steeped.

Is it safe to make sun tea in a plastic container? No, plastic can contain harmful chemicals that could leach into your tea when heated in the sun. Choose glass instead.

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To make sun tea you will only need a few items, a glass container or jar, a mesh strainer and tea bags if desired. I like to choose organic tea that uses plastic and chemical free bags. Below, I’ve listed a few of my favorite items that helped me to make this recipe.

• Gallon size Mason jar with top
• Mesh Strainer
• Organic Tea Bags
• Glass cups with bamboo lids and straws for enjoying tea

*None of the above information is medical advice. Nothing in this post is meant to take the place of medical advice from a doctor or health professional. I am not a doctor, I am only sharing my personal experience, personal research I have done and information I have inferred. Please see my disclaimer for more information.*

Iced Sun Tea

Learn how to safely make this refreshing and healthy beverage.

5 from 1 vote

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Servings 16 servings

Equipment

• 1 large glass jar with lid
• 1 mesh strainer

Ingredients

  

• 1 gallon filter water
• 6-8 tea bags organic
• 1 cup fresh herbs

Instructions

 

• Wash jar and fill with filter water.
• Wash herbs thoroughly and place in water with tea bags.
• Seal the top of the jar and place in a sunny spot outside.
• Allow tea to steep for 3-4 hours.
• After 3-4 hours place glass jar in the refrigerator to cool removing herbs with a mesh strainer, before, if desired. (see above instructions)
• Once cooled, enjoy over ice.