Capture summer in a jar by brewing tea in the warmth of the sun.
- Add lemon, lime and simple syrup - made with two parts water to one part sugar and boiled - or mint to taste. (You can add granulated sugar instead of syrup, but it doesn't dissolve as well.)
- Choose a clear glass jar that can hold the amount of tea you want to make and has a working lid.
- Fill the jar with cold water.
- Select your tea - either bags or loose tea. Four tea bags or 4 tsp. tea will make 4 c. of sun tea.
- For loose tea, either use a tea ball, tie the tea up in a little cheesecloth, or decide not to use anything (which means you'll have to strain the tea).
- Put the tea bags or loose tea in the water. Close the lid.
- Set the jar in the sun.
- In an hour, check the tea's strength and color. If you used loose tea without a container, strain the tea.
- Pour over ice and enjoy.
If you leave tea bags in the water too long, the tea will be bitter.