There’s something special about brewing tea in the sun. Learning how to make sun tea is a simple, refreshing way to use the sun’s energy to create a flavorful, naturally infused drink. Unlike regular tea, where you use hot water to steep the leaves quickly, sun tea gently infuses over time, allowing the warmth of the sun to slowly draw out the flavors and nutrients. This process gives sun tea a unique taste that’s perfect for warm days.
And you can also make moon tea! Just let your tea infuse outside overnight. It’s especially powerful during a full moon, adding a touch of celestial magic to your brew. Whether you’re soaking up the sun’s rays or tapping into lunar energy, making sun (or moon) tea is a fun, natural way to enjoy your favorite drink.
Creating Your Perfect Sun Tea Blend
In the recipe below, we’re using dried lemon balm and mint—two of our go-to herbs for a refreshing, soothing tea. But don’t feel like you have to stick with these! You can swap in just about any dried herb or herbal blend you love. If you’re not in the mood to make your own loose-leaf mix, our Enchanted Mint blend is a perfect choice.
You can use fresh herbs to make sun tea, but dried herbs will give you a more potent and flavorful brew. We like to do a mix—dried herbs for that strong, rich flavor, and a handful of fresh herbs from the garden to celebrate the season and add a pop of color.
Featured Ingredients:
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): Known for its calming properties, lemon balm is a fantastic herb for promoting relaxation and soothing stress. It’s also great for digestion and can help ease minor aches and pains, making it an amazing addition to any tea blend.
Peppermint (Mentha × piperita): Peppermint is a classic herb, and it’s both refreshing and soothing. It’s excellent for digestion, can help with headaches, and has a cooling effect that’s perfect for a summer day. It also adds a nice flavor to your tea.
This recipe is just a starting point! If you’re feeling adventurous, try making your own loose-leaf blends by experimenting with different herbs from our apothecary. A few examples of good tea herbs are:
You can even toss in some dried fruit or citrus peels for more flavor.
Easy Herbal Sun Tea Recipe
Here’s how to make sun tea! This recipe makes about ½ gallon of sun tea, so you’ll have plenty to store in the fridge and enjoy over the next 2-3 days.
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons dried peppermint
- 4 tablespoons dried lemon balm
- A handful of fresh lemon balm and mint (optional)
- Water, to fill (use a ½ gallon glass jar)
- Fresh herbs or lemon wheel garnish (optional)
Instructions:
- Add Dried Herbs: Place the dried peppermint and lemon balm into a ½ gallon glass jar. If you’re using fresh herbs for extra flavor and vibrancy, then toss them in now, as well.
- Fill with Water: Fill the jar with water, making sure to leave a little room at the top so it doesn’t overflow.
- Seal and Infuse: Seal the jar tightly with a lid and place it outside in direct sunlight. Let it steep for about 3-4 hours, depending on how strong you like your tea. The longer it sits, the more intense the flavor will be.
- Strain: After the tea has reached your desired strength, bring it inside, strain out the herbs, and pour the tea into a clean container.
- Chill: Store your sun tea in the fridge and enjoy it over the next 2-3 days. You can garnish each glass with fresh herbs or a lemon wheel for an extra touch.
And if you’re not in the mood to whip up your own herbal tea blend, no worries! Our Enchanted Mint tea features a mix of peppermint, lemon balm, and spearmint, making it an easy and tasty alternative. Simply use the same amount of the Enchanted Mint blend as you would the individual dried herbs, and you’ll have a perfectly balanced, refreshing sun tea with minimal effort.
Sip the Sunshine
Whether you’re lounging in your backyard, prepping for a picnic, or just want a cooling drink on a hot day, sun tea is a great way to connect with nature. And it’s a fun and safe activity for the whole family! Children will love being part of the process—choosing herbs, watching the sun work its magic, and, of course, enjoying the results. Don’t forget, you can always get a little creative—whether it’s tossing in fresh herbs from your garden, experimenting with different dried blends, or even trying out moon tea under the light of the full moon. The possibilities are endless!
This article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and this information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
