Fun In the Sun Tea Recipe
Looking for a sun tea recipe so you can bring something to drink to the picnic. Ah....those, lazy days of summer.
Does it bring you back to a happy time from childhood? Grandma is on the porch calling the kids in for a cool drink.
Did your grandma put the tea outside and let it steep in the sun? It tasted so good, what is her secret. Probably she lovingly made it for you.
How You Can Capture That Feeling
To Brew
1. Place tea leaves in a glass container filled with water.
2. Then place the container in a sunny location to steep.
Possible Bacteria
Although it makes for an fantastic drink, there is an unexpected threat to be aware of...the potential for bacteria.
It has been said that tea steeped in the sun generally does not reach a high enough temperature. So it will not kill any bacteria that may be present in the water used to brew the tea. In fact, the sun may encourage its growth.
Minimize Problems
There are some things that you can do to minimize the chance of harmful bacteria from breeding in your tea. Please use your own judgment as to what is best for you.
The Centers for Disease Control and the National Tea Association recommend the following when making this drink.
1. Brew tea bags at 195 degrees F for three to five minutes.
2. Brew only enough that can be consumed within a few hours.
3. Never maintain brewed tea for more than eight hours at room temperature.
4. Discard any unused tea after eight hours.
5. Wash, rinse, and sanitize tea-making equipment regularly.
6. Brew the tea in the refrigerator overnight instead of outdoors.
By following these simple suggestions you can minimize your risk of harmful bacteria within your tea.
Ah..sun, sun, sun, here it comes..(thanks to George Harrison for the song).
