How to Make Sun Tea While Camping
Camping is a wonderful way to reconnect with nature, and what better way to savor the great outdoors than with a refreshing glass of sun tea? This simple, eco-friendly method of brewing tea harnesses the power of the sun, making it perfect for a camping trip. Here's a step-by-step guide to making sun tea while you're out in the wild, with some inspiration from our favorite Saturday activity: visiting the farmers market.
Why Sun Tea?
Sun tea is a gentle way of brewing tea that allows the flavors to slowly develop, resulting in a smooth, mellow beverage. It's also an energy-efficient method, as it uses the natural heat of the sun rather than gas or electricity. Plus, it adds a bit of adventure and charm to your camping experience.
What You’ll Need:
Glass or BPA-free plastic container with a lid: A mason jar or a large, clear jug works well.
Tea bags or loose tea: Black tea, green tea, or herbal tea – your choice!
Fresh water: Use filtered or bottled water for the best taste and safety.
Optional add-ins: Fresh herbs (like mint), lemon slices, or sweeteners (like honey or sugar).
Steps to Making Sun Tea:
Choose Your Spot: Find a sunny spot at your campsite where the sun shines for most of the day. Ensure it’s safe from wildlife and not prone to tipping over.
Prepare the Container:
Fill your container with about 1 quart (4 cups) of fresh water. We love using a mason jar with a metal sieve so we can use loose leaf tea. This set-up also doubles as a cold brew coffee maker!
Add tea bags depending on how strong you want your tea. For this 64 oz (1/2 gallon) container use 5-6 tea bags or 2.5-3 teaspoons of loose leaf tea.
Seal and Place:
Secure the lid on your container to keep out insects and debris.
Place the container in your sunny spot and let it sit for 3-5 hours. The heat from the sun will gently brew the tea.
Monitor the Brewing: Check the color of the tea periodically. It should gradually darken to your desired strength. If it’s a particularly hot day, it may brew faster, so keep an eye on it.
Add Flavors: Once the tea is brewed to your liking, remove the tea bags. This is the time to add any optional flavors. Fresh mint leaves, lemon slices, or a touch of sweetener can enhance the taste. If you’ve recently visited a farmers market and picked up fresh herbs, adding a few leaves can give your tea an interesting and complex flavor.
Cool Down:
Allow the tea to cool naturally or place it in a cooler with ice.
For a quicker cool-down, pour the sun tea over a cup filled with ice cubes.
Serve and Enjoy: Pour your sun tea into cups, sit back, and enjoy the refreshing taste. It's a perfect drink to share around the campfire as you relax and soak in the beauty of nature.
Tips for Perfect Sun Tea:
Safety First: Always use fresh, clean water to avoid any bacterial growth. If you're unsure about the water quality, boil it first and let it cool before using it to brew sun tea.
Storage: Sun tea should be consumed within a day or two. Store any leftovers in a cooler or an insulated container to keep it fresh.
Experiment: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different tea blends and flavorings. Each camping trip can offer a new sun tea adventure.
Farmers Market Inspiration
If you’re like us, you love the experience of visiting your local farmers market. Our home base is Brooklyn, NY, and we adore our Brooklyn farmer’s market. It’s our little slice of the country when we’re taking some time at home before heading back out on the road. The fresh herbs from the market are perfect for making sage bundles and adding to sun tea.
Even if you buy herbs for making sage smudge bundles or cooking, save a few leaves for your sun tea to elevate its flavor - try mint, basil, lemon balm, and lavender. Fresh or dried herbs both work wonderfully. So, next time you're at the farmers market, pick up some extra herbs to bring on your camping trip.
Essential Oils and More
For those who enjoy adding culinary essential oils to their tea for extra flavor and health benefits, a stainless-steel filter combined with a glass jar is ideal. You can safely add a couple of drops of Young Living Vitality™ oils without worrying about plastic contamination.
Making sun tea while camping is a delightful way to enhance your outdoor experience. It’s a simple process that yields a rewarding result – a cool, flavorful beverage made with the warmth of the sun. So next time you head out into the wilderness, don’t forget to pack your sun tea essentials and maybe a few special finds from the farmers market too!