A Sun Tea Recipe On
A Hot Day!

Looking for a sun tea recipe? It conjures up a lazy summer day from childhood.

Many people quench their thirst by brewing this beverage which is made by:

How 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 effective thirst quencher, there is an unexpected threat one should be aware...the potential for bacteria.

I have read 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.

To make matters worse, the sun has been known to encourage bacteria growth within water.

Minimize Potential Bacteria

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 tea.

1. Brew tea bags at 195 degrees F for three to five minutes.

2. Brew only enough tea 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.

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