Classic Iced Sun Tea Food

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.

ICED SUN TEA

Steps:

• Remove any tags from the tea bags (prevents dye from leeching into the tea) and place them in the bottom of a clear, glass, 1/2 gallon pitcher.
• Fill with cold water , add lemon and lime and cover with plastic wrap or lid (keeps gnats and other creepies out).
• Place outdoors in the sun (can do out of the sun as well, but takes just a bit longer).
• Allow to brew for 5-6 hours or until it is as dark as you like (warmer weather brews it faster).
• Remove tea bags and fruit and serve tea over ice, sweetened with honey if desired (mix it in while tea is warm).
• Tea will keep about 6 hours, after which the quality decreases rapidly.

CLASSIC ICED TEA

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine black tea, lemon and orange zest, and boiling water. Let steep 8 minutes. Remove tea bags and let cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Serve over ice with lemon and orange slices if desired.

SWEET SUN TEA

Steps:

• Remove the paper tabs from tea bags. Tie all the tea bag strings together, throw into glass container.
• Add 1 cup sugar to glass container. Fill container with water within 2" of top. Shake container to dissolve the sugar.
• Place in a sunny spot outside.
• Do your chores or play, come back later, add ice cubes.
• Pour into tall glass with slice of lemon or whatever.

ICED CITRUS SUN TEA

Steps:

• To make the tea:
• Fill an ice-cube tray with orange juice and freeze, uncovered, until solid, about 4 hours. Orange ice cubes may be made 1 week ahead and kept frozen in a plastic bag.
• In a pitcher combine tea bags and water and let tea stand at room temperature 4 hours.
• Remove tea bags and chill tea, covered, until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Cut half of lemon and lime into slices and squeeze remaining halves into tea. Stir syrup and all fruit slices into tea. Serve tea over orange juice ice cubes in tall glasses.
• To make the simple syrup:
• In a saucepan bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring, and boil until sugar is completely dissolved. Let syrup cool and chill, covered. Syrup may be made 2 weeks ahead and chilled, covered. Makes about 2 cups.