Solar Powered Sun Brewed Iced Tea Recipes

SUNSATIONAL SUN-BREWED ICED TEA

Steps:

• Place 2 quarts water in a large clear pitcher.
• Add 6 large mint sprigs, crushed.
• Add 1/4 cup sugar.
• Add 6-7 tea bags.
• Cover pitcher and let stand in sun 2 to 4 hours.
• Remove tea bags.
• Serve over ice, garnished with additional mint sprigs, if desired.
• Refrigerate tea up to 3 days, if it lasts that long.

SOLAR-POWERED, SUN-BREWED ICED TEA

Steps:

• *Early in the day*: fill a gallon jar with water, tea bags and honey; cover and place jar out in a sunny spot.
• Remove from outdoors, shake jug to be sure the honey is well-mixed; remove tea-bags (these can go in the compost).
• Place jar in fridge to chill (well, duh!).
• Serve over ice cubes or just chilled.
• VARIATIONS: If you're using unflavored tea bags, you can add a flavor by adding several (or fewer) drops of your favorite flavoring extracts to the finished tea: raspberry, orange, blackberry or a combination.
• MONEY-SAVING HINT: Leave the honey out and let everyone add their own sugar when they're served.

SUN-BREWED MINT TEA

Steps:

• Pour the water into a large glass container with a lid. Stir in honey until dissolved.
• Zest the lemon, being careful not to include any white pith, and juice the lemon. Combine the zest and juice with the honey water mixture.
• Hold a bunch of mint in one hand; use your other hand to twist and squeeze the leaves, slightly bruising them to release their fragrance and oils. Immerse the bunches in the water mixture. Cover the container and place in direct sunlight for two hours. Remove the mint leaves, shake, and serve over ice in tall glasses, garnished with a mint sprig.

CLASSIC ICED SUN TEA

Steps:

• Pour water over tea, and steep in bright sunlight until rich brown and translucent but not cloudy, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Strain. Serve over ice with garnish.

COLD BREWED JASMINE ICED TEA

Steps:

• In a large pitcher combine the tea and water. Mix the sugar or honey with about a cup of hot water so that it dissolves and will mix with the room temperature water. Add the sugar/ hot water mixture to the pitcher. Put the pitcher in the refrigerator (preferably before you go to sleep) and let the tea leaves soak until morning (9-12 hours). Add lemon to taste and then pour the tea through a strainer so as to catch the tea leaves before serving.