Sun Tea with Simple Syrup, Lemon, & Mint Leaves

Last weekend I visited a grouchy, difficult to deal with childhood friend, and she told me about the sun tea her mother Sara used to make. Sadly, Sara is no longer with us, and so I asked my friend if she would share the recipe with me. Her immediate response, “No, it’s a family secret”, further irked me during a challenging weekend with her.

Sara would have definitely offered up her recipe. Being in the publishing industry herself, and even once owning a newspaper, she was not one to keep a good recipe secret. So, I made my own version of Sara’s tea, which I want to share with you. Well loved recipes should be shared with as many people as possible in my mind. It's through these recipes I believe we pass along love, friendship, and history.

I made the tea in two half gallon pitchers, as they fit better in my refrigerator.

2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup water
20 mint leaves
2 small lemons, sliced
About 1 gallon of water
2 large Lipton iced tea bags, or 4 small Lipton tea bags

In a sauce pan boil 2/3 cup granulated sugar and 2/3 cup water together, until the liquid is clear and the sugar is melted. About 3 minutes. Next add the syrup to a gallon sized jug followed by the mint leaves, lemon slices, and enough water to fill the jug. Hang the tea bags off the jug and close with a lid. Set in the sun for several hours.

Remove the tea bags and chill until cold. Or pour into a tall glass with ice.

As always, please feel free to share this recipe with others.

Notes: Lately I've been making honey simple syrup for this tea. If you want to try this, boil together 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup water and add to a gallon sized pitcher in place of simple syrup.

Recipe by Laura Flowers.

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