Ingredients:

  • 1 gallon (3.8 Litres) Cold Filtered Water
  • 8 Standard Black Tea Bags (e.g., English Breakfast, Darjeeling)
  • 4 slices Fresh Lemon Slices (Optional)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) Simple Syrup (1:1 ratio, Optional)
  • 4 sprigs Fresh Mint Sprigs (Optional, for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. Preparation and Sanitisation: Thoroughly wash the large glass container (at least 1-gallon capacity) with a tight-fitting lid, ensuring it is completely clean to prevent bacterial growth during steeping.
  2. Fill the Vessel: Pour 1 gallon of cold, filtered water into the clean glass vessel.
  3. Add Tea and Flavour: Place the 8 tea bags directly into the water. If using, add the 4 lemon slices now for a subtle, infused flavour.
  4. Seal and Place: Secure the lid tightly onto the vessel. Place the container outside in a location that receives uninterrupted direct sunlight. Elevate the container off the ground to maximise heat absorption.
  5. Steep Safely: Allow the Sun Tea to steep for 3 to 4 hours. Check the color at the 3-hour mark. Due to food safety concerns, never steep the tea longer than 5 hours.
  6. Filter and Transfer: Bring the tea indoors immediately. Remove and discard the tea bags and lemon slices. Avoid squeezing the bags, as this releases tannins and makes the tea bitter.
  7. Chill Rapidly: Transfer the sun tea into the refrigerator. Chill for a minimum of 2 hours, or until thoroughly cold.
  8. Sweeten (Optional): Once chilled, stir in the simple syrup to your desired sweetness level.
  9. Serve: Serve the sun tea over ice, garnished with fresh mint sprigs or an additional slice of lemon.