Summer Goodness: Making use of the sun for the best tea!
I’m a huge fan of sun teas, any tea can be sun tea or cold brew. I am particularly fond of Mountain Rose Herb’s Hibiscus High blend, its beautiful, and natural, with ingredients like organic hibiscus, lemongrass, spearmint, orange peel, rose petals, rosehips, and honeybush. It’s sweet but not overly so, and I never add sugar or honey (unless I have a sore throat). I like to pair it with one part of a black tea – almost any black tea will do but I try to be sure it’s also organic.
In a two-quart mason jar, put three parts of Hibiscus High tea with one part of black tea. Put cold water to the rim, put a ring and seal or a plastic screw-on lid, and set in the sun for several hours. I’m a big fan of the plastic mason jar lids which you can find anywhere. I also like Snarky Tea’s cold brew system which is a filter, but there are many others like this one that uses a lid and infuser system.
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- Sun Tea on the Front Porch
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- Hibiscus Sun Tea with Tonic and Fresh Basil
Some tips:
- For an adult version, I like to pour the finished tea over ice, add your spirit of choice (try pre-made margaritas for a nice limey kick) and finish with tonic.
- Add muddled fresh strawberries or other fruit (like blueberries or cherries) and steep until done.
- If you’re like me, only brew two quarts at a time so none is wasted in the fridge, because while it will keep for several days, it’s at its best when it’s freshest.
- Top your finished drink (either spiked or not) with fresh basil leaves. This adds a beautiful aromatic element to the tea.
Take advantage of the bounty of Summer and enjoy your favorite sun tea!
Kathy
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Kathy is an herbalist/naturopathic practitioner who is constantly researching to expand her knowledge. She came to herbalism after her migraine medicine was suddenly removed from the market and she had to find something new. After discovering the magic of herbs she’s never looked back. She is accredited by the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM) and is an Associate Member of the American Herbalist Guild.