How Long Do You Leave Sun Tea Out?
Sun tea is a refreshing and easy beverage to make. It’s made simply by sitting tea bags in a glass jar filled with water and exposed to the sun. While it’s a cinch to make, there are a few things to consider regarding how long to leave your sun tea out.
Length of Exposure
The length of exposure depends on your desired strength. For a milder tea, typically two to three hours of sun exposure will do the trick. If you prefer a stronger tea, then leave it for four or more hours.
Also, keep in mind the intensity of the sun. On hot days with plenty of sunlight, your beverage may be ready quicker than when the sun is weak and warmer days will steep and darken the tea quicker.
Health and Safety Considerations
While the tea will be drawn out and dissolved into the water within the time frame mentioned above, the leaves or tea bags themselves may take several hours or even days to fully steep.
If you plan to store your sun tea for longer periods of time, it is important to chill it in the refrigerator to ensure that no bacteria accumulates when exposed to higher temperatures.
Conclusion
With the amount of time necessary to make sun tea, you should adjust the strength of tea by changing the length of sun exposure.
To make sure your sun tea is safe to drink, it is important to remember the following points:
- Choose the length of exposure according to your desired strength of tea
- Intense sunlight will create a stronger tea quicker
- Steeping time will vary according to temperature
- Be sure to store your tea in the refrigerator
In conclusion, properly made sun tea can be a tasty treat on any summer day with the right combination of tea and sun exposure. Just be sure to adjust the length of leaving it out according to your preference and store it in the refrigerator for the best results.
