Perfect Sun Tea

When I was a child, the best part about a hot summer afternoon was drinking a tall glass of mom's iced sun tea. Sun tea is just what the name implies- tea brewed in the sun. To this day it is still the best tea I can ever remember drinking. But the best thing about sun tea is that it is just as fun to make as it is to drink.

Start an hour or two before noon with a large (about 2-3 gallons) clear glass jar. Plastic will suffice, but you simply must use glass if you want to experience the tea in all its sun-drenched glory. I have found that the best sun tea is brewed in a jar with bright yellow and orange flowers emblazoned upon it, but please feel free to experiment. The jar should have a screw-on plastic lid, preferably bright yellow. A perfect jar will also come with a little twist-open spout on bottom for pouring your tea.

Fill the jar to the brim with cool, clear filtered water. Add a few bags of your favorite tea. That's right, any tea. Follow the directions for iced tea for the tea you choose. Be sure to leave the strings hanging over the side of the jar, and close the lid tight. Set the jar on a sunny windowsill, on the railing of the front porch, up on the roof- wherever it is sure to get plenty of sun. Just make sure the jar is stable and away from children and pets. The last thing you want is for your jar to be broken and all your sun tea spilled!

Now.... Go. Live. Enjoy the day. Take your friends out to the movies. Read a book. Hit the gym. Go for a bike ride. Eat some ice cream. Go shopping. Mow the lawn. Just drive around. Whatever makes you happy. But by all means have fun and forget about all your worries! Now see how quickly the day passed? The sun is starting to retreat and everyone is heading home to relax and prepare for the evening. Take a look at your jar, and you will find it full of a beautiful amber nectar. Take the jar in and pour some of your sun tea over a pitcher of ice. Taste it before adding any sugar- it's more mellow than you would expect. Finally, pour over more ice in a tall glass, add a slice of lemon, and enjoy! Just remember that, since you didn't use boiling water, your tea should be consumed within a few days. But you will have no trouble there, I promise!