Making Sun Tea

I grew up in the deep south, and we made sun tea all the time, but I think it’s only fair to warn you that there are new studies that suggest that sun tea can be harmful to your health. As I have come to understand it, sun tea is actually a perfect incubator for bacteria. From what I understand, it is suggested that you not leave your sun tea out for longer than four hours before refrigerating.

I wasn’t really excited to read this, and I’m still not sure somebody’s not being uber-paranoid (like I said, I grew up on the stuff), but I think I should at least pass it on to you.

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I grew up on sun tea too. My gramma used to make sun tea all the time. I even just bought a satisfactory jar for making sun tea when I learned this news. sigh

It makes sense, but, I am still quite sad about it, because I was really excited about brewing sun tea this summer (although, there haven’t been quite enough sunny days to make “sun tea” – it’s been quite overcast.)

I think the fears with sun tea are somewhat unfounded. From what I have read, the bacteria that have been detected are present in tap water and are not pathogenic. What I would recommend, though, is not sweetening the tea until just before you drink it — sugar is the perfect food for bacteria.

I’ve also read that bacteria can enter the tea from outside critters-like ants. But cases of sickness from sun tea are rare. as I sit here sippin some golden yunnan sun tea

Oooh, I hope VIHA (Vancouver Island Health Authority) doesn’t have any reservations about doing this little project?! (they are our licensing body)

I would not leave the teas out for longer than 4 hrs since we usually go on out trips in the afternoon, also I would be puting the teas into 1cup sized sealable canning jars, the idea of bugs kinda grosses me out…

Thanks for all the help! :)

I think if you keep the jars sealed and keep an eye on the tea, you’ll be just fine. I still live on sun tea and it is love!

maybe it’s just me…but I think the flavor really comes out more if you make sun tea – in SUN LIGHT verses the brewed method followed by iced and/or cold brewed…just my findings :)

My grandpa made it all the time in the summer months (and I’m in the snowbelt)!

I heard sterilizing the jars helps reduce the bacteria chance for sun teas.

I’ve also heard similar warnings for cold steeping – teas should hit X temperature or bacteria will still be present http://www.heavenoftea.com/making-great-tea/cold-brewing-tea/ I kinda don’t get because I know food sitting for a long time at 63 to 8c/ 145 to 46F is the danger zone (probably why Sun tea has those warnings), but in the fridge it should be less than 8c.