Herbal Sun Tea

Making herbal sun tea is very rewarding. If you’ve ever made sun tea before with traditional black tea, you’ve already discovered that the power of the sunlight will do all the work without the need for a stove.

Here are some suggestions for herbal sun tea ingredients:

• mint
• rosemary
• lemon balm
• sage
• lavender
• hyssop
• chamomile

Other garden-grown, medicinal or wild plants could also be used. (Be sure to research anything unfamiliar before making a decision to include it.)

Preparations: Choose a small glass jar for your first try. Scale up to a larger jar if you land on a fantastic blend that you want to share with others. Lidded jars (like Ball canning jars) are convenient, but you can also use plastic wrap to cover your brew.

Choose a sunny day and allow at least 6 hours for your tea to brew in full sun. It’s best to start your tea-making in the morning or early afternoon. 

Step 1 – Gather Your Ingredients

Here I’m using some of the botanical goodies that grow on my land in Maine. I wasn’t sure if lady’s mantle could be used internally, but a bit of checking online showed me that it’s a traditional medicinal herb, so I happily included it. 

      Sample Blend:

• wild field mint
• rose petals (rosa rugosa, or beach rose)
• lady’s mantle

Experiment with your own blends! Using herbs from your own garden or a local source will give you a sense of connection to the land.

Step 2 – Fill the Jar

Fill a glass mason jar until it’s nearly full with room temperature water (a large drinking glass will also work). Add your herbal ingredients and press down into the water. Now screw on the lid (or cover with plastic wrap).

Step 3 – Expose to Full Sun for 6-8 Hours

Step 4 – Strain, Sweeten, and Enjoy

You can sweeten your tea with a bit of honey, then add several ice cubes and sprig of fresh herb. The tea I made today was light in color, but the flavor was fresh and delightful.