Sweet Peppermint Sun Tea
This past weekend I was listening to the weather report. The estimated temperature was a balmy 96 degrees. If that wasn’t hot enough the weatherman added one last note, “It’s going to feel like 105 degrees” and then proceeded with the beach report. I don’t want to get dramatic or anything but even when we lived on Fort Bliss in Texas and it was actually 105 it still wasn’t as hot as Florida is in the summertime.
As soon as I heard the report, I got out my vintage Pyrex tea pitcher and decided to make sweet peppermint sun tea. Although I’ve never actually made my own sun tea, I’ve always wanted to learn. My mom makes tea on the stove. My Aunt Gale’s tea is epic. She makes THE best sweet tea ever. It’s so good we ask for it every time we get together.
Some of my favorite childhood memories involve sitting on the porch with a glass of sweet tea laughing with my aunts and cousins. Since my Aunt Gale is already the family’s “tea master” I’m not crazy enough to mess with her recipe. I did however want to make something that could be just as southern.
This is my recipe for Sweet Peppermint Sun Tea:
Fill a clean glass pitcher with 2 quarts of filtered water. Make sure the pitcher has a lid.
After removing the paper tags add 4-6 peppermint tea bags (depending on how strong you like your tea) to the pitcher.
Place the lid on the tea pitcher
and set out in the sun for 4 hours so the tea bags can steep.
While the tea is steeping make a simple syrup (1 cup water, ¾ cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of peppermint syrup boiled until clear). Bring steeped tea inside, remove tea bags, pour the simple syrup mixture into the pitcher and stir.
Fill a glass with ice, add a fresh sprig of peppermint, find a rocking chair or a hammock and enjoy!
Refrigerate immediately. Sun tea will probably keep for 1-2 days. Make sure to take proper cleaning procedures and throw out the tea if it ends up looking extra thick or is syrupy. It should be noted sun tea does not keep as long as boiled tea.
I hope you guys have a happy and relaxing weekend. See you back here on Monday for the Something to Talk About Link Party and on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest this weekend.
Many blessings,
CoCo
CoCo – this looks so delicious and refreshing. I’m sure it is perfect to drink on a hot Summer afternoon. We are always looking for ways to beat the heat and this just got added to the list!
Thanks so much ladies! You know I’m always on the look out for a great sweet tea recipe 🙂 Hugs to you both, CoCo
Coco, Wow I’ve never had peppermint tea but I bet it’s so refreshing and tasty. Great idea and I’m gonna have to give it a try.
Have a wonderful weekend, xo Lisa
Thank you Lisa, it’s a nice change from the standard sweet tea recipe. I think you’ll really like it. Hope your weekend was a happy one, CoCo
This looks so refreshing!! I didn’t know that sun tea wouldn’t last as long as boiled tea. Thanks for the tip! Have a great weekend!
From everything I’ve read, Angie, sun tea doesn’t last as long because the water temperature doesn’t reach as high as the tea that has been boiled on the stove. Hope your birthday weekend was a happy one, CoCo
CoCo, this sun tea looks amazing!!! I can’t wait to try some:) thanks so much for sharing again at Dream. Create. Inspire. Link:). I hope you are having a great week, Tara
It’s really refreshing, I think you’ll like it! Hope you’re having a great week as well, CoCo