Herbal Sun Tea

I must apologize for my absence over the past couple of weeks.  I've been out of town for work and didn't have much time to sleep much less write this post.  I planned on posting this a while ago when we got a bit of a cool front and it was pleasant enough to have the windows open.  I find myself pining for that weather now as it's quite hard to go outside without breaking a sweat.  Despite my tardiness in posting, I'm thinking a nice cold glass of sun tea will be a welcome addition to any Labor Day festivities.

I can remember my mom making sun tea when I was a kid.  We had a special glass dispenser that you would put the tea in and then park it outside for a bit to steep.  I remember it having a yellow/sunny motif on it as if to say it was the perfect vessel for sun tea making.  I also remember not being too terribly keen on sun tea (I think we mostly used Lipton bags).  I suppose the pleasant breeze and mild temperatures prompted me to make my own version full of fresh flavors from my homegrown herbs.

Sun tea is a pretty simple affair.  It involves filling a glass mason jar with herbs/tea, covering it with water, and parking it in a sunny spot for a few hours.  What I've included below is my version of an herbal sun tea so feel free to use it as more of a starting off point.  Now, go forth and experiment with your own sun tea!      

Herbal Sun Tea

handful of fresh mint
handful of citrus scented geranium leaves
small handful of pineapple sage
1 heaping tbsp dried hibiscus (or other tea of your choice)
filtered water
lemon slices to garnish (optional)
agave or honey to sweeten (optional)

Place your fresh herbs in a quart sized or larger jar.  Gently muddle the leaves with the back of a wooden spoon to start releasing their oils, then add the dried hibiscus and cover with filtered water.  Put the lid on the jar, then place it in a sunny spot for at least 2-3 hours.  To serve, strain over ice into a glass and top with a lemon slice.  Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to a couple of days.  Makes 2-4 servings.