Summertime Sun Teas

All Laredoans are too familiar with the heat of a South Texas Summer.  The concentrated sun beats down on us while we try to enjoy free time outside and turns our cars into personal saunas.  But believe it or not, we can use this overly excited sun for something delicious: sun tea.  Sun tea is simply something fun to do with all the extra time and sun summer provides, and some people even claim it produces a better tasting tea compared to regular brewed or refrigerator tea.  That is a conclusion you'll have to reach yourself after trying out this recipe!

We chose to make two fruity sun teas for extra freshness and flavor, and took two separate approaches to each.  The Peach Mint Sun Tea was prepared in a mason jar using a ratio of 2 tea bags to 3 cups of water for a milder tea flavor.  The Strawberry Lemon Sun Tea was prepared in a party-size jar using a ratio of 10 tea bags to 10 cups of water and has a stronger tea flavor.  This can always be diluted, or made stronger to suit your own taste.

Peach Mint Sun Tea

• 3 cups water
• 2 tea bags
• 3 mint leaves
• 1/2 a large, ripe peach, peeled and cored

Fill glass container with water and add tea bags. Slice the peeled peach and place slices into water. Add mint leaves and seal container with lid.  Leave in the sun for 1-2 hours, not more than 3 or 4.  Refrigerate.

Strawberry Lemon Sun Tea

• 10 cups water
• 10 tea bags
• 15 strawberries
• 1 jumbo lemon

Fill glass container with water and add tea bags.  Remove tops of strawberries, slice in half and add to water.  Remove ends of lemon, slice, and place into water. Seal container with lid and place outside in direct sunlight.  Leave for 2 hours, no more than 3-4. Refrigerate.

Sweetening

For sweetening we made a simple syrup to add to the tea after it had brewed.  You can use regular sugar or other kind of sweetener you prefer.  Simple syrup is made with equal part water to sugar, use medium heat until sugar has dissolved and refrigerate when it is finished.

When leaving the sun teas outside, be sure to not leave them for more than 4 hours because bacteria can begin to grow.  With the Laredo heat and sun, 1-2 hours is sufficient enough to brew the tea.  Adding sugar before brewing can also encourage bacteria growth so it's recommended to add after it's been brought inside and refrigerated.

Enjoy!