A sun tea is a type of herbal infusion made with herbs and water. But, rather than heating water on the stove, you use the power of the sun to heat up the water. You can use fresh herbs from your garden, as well as dried herbs. Some examples of herbs and flowers to include are: lavender, rose petals, calendula, chamomile, lemon balm, feverfew, yarrow, red clover, peppermint, spearmint, catnip, echinacea, tulsi (holy basil), thyme, nettles, and more. Basically, use whatever herbs you think might be tasty. You could also create a blend based on therapeutic needs, such as:
Nerve Relaxant - lavender, lemon balm, chamomile, sage, rosemary, lemongrass, fennel, St. John's wort, and/or basil.
Sleep Aid - chamomile, lemon balm, hops, skullcap, passionflower, tulsi, and/or lavender.
Headache - feverfew, lavender, rosemary, lemon balm, passionflower, and/or skullcap.
Digestive Aid - peppermint (or other mints), chamomile, catnip, tulsi, cilantro, oregano, parsley, dill, lemon balm, and/or yarrow.
Lung Tonic - thyme, mullein leaf, coltsfoot, elecampane, gotu kola, spikenard, nettles, and/or horehound.
Immune Health - echinacea, gingko, bacopa, yarrow, lemon balm, nettles, and/or tulsi,
You'll Need:
Bell canning jar with a lid.
Cool, filtered water.
Herbs and flowers of your choice.
Strainer
Cheesecloth
Directions:
Fill a mason jar about 1/3 of the way with fresh herbs.
Add cool, filtered water up to the top of the jar, being certain to cover all the herbs, so that they don't spoil.
Put the cap on the jar and shake it.
Leave it in a sunny place, such as a windowsill or in your garden for approximately 3 to 5 hours.
Line a strainer with cheesecloth and place over a clean cup, mug, or jar.
Strain the tea from the herbs and discard the used herbs or compost them.
Sweeten the tea if you’d like, and/or add slices of lemon or lime.
Relax, sip, and enjoy!
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