Summer Sun Tea with Fresh Herbs

If you have access to fresh herbs, the heat of summer is a great time to make sun tea. Here's what you do:

1. Gather a big fistful of herbs. I’ve been using fresh lemon balm, peppermint, spearmint, pineapple mint, and nettles.

2. Rinse and check for bugs, then put them in a glass pitcher with water. Once the herbs are moistened, it helps to make a stronger tea if you crush them with your hands a bit.

3. Then, set your pitcher out in a sunny location for several hours. On a hot day the tea will actually be hot after a few hours in the sun!

4. Come back a few hours later, or at the end of the day and see the transformation!

5. Strain your tea. I like to pour it into my french press to strain it. Then I usually drink some immediately and put the rest in the refrigerator for a refreshing cold beverage later.

Melissa officinalis, Lemon Balm

Mentha piperita, Peppermint

Urtica dioica, Stinging Nettle