@Fish_Kungfu Yes he is. I forgot about the Bacteria song, though. I saw him open for They Might Be Giants in Arcata, but I've never seen him at his own show. I often bemoan the fact that so many of the artists I love (TMBG, JoCo, John Hodgman) are on the wrong coast.
@vfrdirk "Tea steeped in a jar on your porch won't get any hotter than 130° Fahrenheit, about the temperature of a really hot bath..." Who the heck can take a 130 degree bath? My hot tub is pretty dang warm at 104...
@SSteve Those cold tea bags are a lifesaver. We generally leave ours out on the counter for about 15 minutes, which is long enough to brew a good, strong tea. Take them bags out and refrigerate the pitcher. Mmm!
@Thumperchick I think in this case because the water used is cold, and the tea goes in the refrigerator immediately, it's safe. The issue with the sun tea is it gets pretty darn warm but not boiling. (I love those tea bags too, as mentioned above.)
@Thumperchick On of the sun's main jobs as far as we puny humans go is to make things grow. This works for bacteria as well as strawberries and corn. I am surprised that the acidity of black and green tea doesn't do more to inhibit bacterial growth, though. I don't much care for iced tea, so I haven't ever been a fan of sun tea. When I am making a 3 gallon carafe of iced tea for a party, I boil water on the stove, add family sized tea bags (winner every time, Mighty Leaf Calypso Mango http://www.mightyleaf.com/product/calypso-mango-iced-tea/ ) let it steep and cool for half an hour or so, squeeze out the tea bags and pour it over ice cubes and chuncks of frozen mango.
Ok, I have to ask. What is the point of putting it out in the sun? To heat it up? If it is hot out, why would you want kind of warm tea as opposed to iced tea?
@bruceoite The heat releases the fullness of the tea flavor. It also releases the antioxidants and their powerful health benefits. Using the cold water method robs the tea of both flavor and healthful benefits. If you want iced tea, make hot tea, pour over ice. You can also freeze tea into ice cubes so when you pour hot tea on it it is chilled but not diluted. Add fruit or flavorings to the ice cubes for a great party tea.
What's so bad about bacteria? Not kidding, BTW. Saying that it is a decent place for bacteria to grow isn't meaningful. Think sourdough starter cultures, yogurt, kimchi, modern buttermilk, kefir, kombucha, miso, tempeh...
@JerseyFrank totally agree with what you're saying though, I roll my eyes whenever someone says "you shouldn't eat/drink that, it's full of CHEMICALS!" Everything is chemicals.
I used to make it until I got an iced tea maker. It's pretty awesome, you fill the pitcher with ice, the reservoir with water, put teabags in the brew basket, and 10 minutes later you have a perfect pitcher of iced tea. We use the hell outta that thing.
Bacteria?
oh from the tap water, of course
What bacteria? I make a version of sun tea by the gallon for my husband every day, just about.
@PurplePawprints Ya, what bacteria?!?
It's the neighborhood kids peeing in it that you have to worry about.
Yes, Bacteria.
@Fish_Kungfu Ooh! bacteria is pretty!
@Fish_Kungfu Props for linking Jonathan Coulton.
@PocketBrain JoCo is awesome!
@Fish_Kungfu Yes he is. I forgot about the Bacteria song, though. I saw him open for They Might Be Giants in Arcata, but I've never seen him at his own show. I often bemoan the fact that so many of the artists I love (TMBG, JoCo, John Hodgman) are on the wrong coast.
I think this is what they're talking about.
http://www.snopes.com/food/prepare/suntea.asp
@vfrdirk Wow. I figured that it had to have sugar in it to be a dumb idea. This is deserving of a #themoreyouknow
@vfrdirk
@vfrdirk "Tea steeped in a jar on your porch won't get any hotter than 130° Fahrenheit, about the temperature of a really hot bath..." Who the heck can take a 130 degree bath? My hot tub is pretty dang warm at 104...
I make refrigerator tea. You put teabags in a pitcher and put it in the fridge. It takes a little longer than sun tea but it comes out the same: tea.
@SSteve That's what I do. Having cats and a glass jar out in the sun with teabags hanging off of it always made me a little nervous.
@lisaviolet Wait wait, you don't cover the jar? Eww!
@PocketBrain
@SSteve Those cold tea bags are a lifesaver. We generally leave ours out on the counter for about 15 minutes, which is long enough to brew a good, strong tea. Take them bags out and refrigerate the pitcher. Mmm!
We use a [dedicated] coffee maker, then pour the hot tea over a pitcher of ice.
I have a Mr Coffee Iced tea maker. No need to go outside.
Then how does Lipton sell Cold Brew Iced Tea bags? That I totally use, and am now concerned.
@Thumperchick I think in this case because the water used is cold, and the tea goes in the refrigerator immediately, it's safe. The issue with the sun tea is it gets pretty darn warm but not boiling. (I love those tea bags too, as mentioned above.)
@Groovymarlin Uhh, I totally leave it on the counter. Guess I can't do that anymore.
@Thumperchick On of the sun's main jobs as far as we puny humans go is to make things grow. This works for bacteria as well as strawberries and corn. I am surprised that the acidity of black and green tea doesn't do more to inhibit bacterial growth, though. I don't much care for iced tea, so I haven't ever been a fan of sun tea. When I am making a 3 gallon carafe of iced tea for a party, I boil water on the stove, add family sized tea bags (winner every time, Mighty Leaf Calypso Mango http://www.mightyleaf.com/product/calypso-mango-iced-tea/ ) let it steep and cool for half an hour or so, squeeze out the tea bags and pour it over ice cubes and chuncks of frozen mango.
@moondrake that sounds pretty damn delicious.
@JonT This one's also really popular. I add slices of frozen fresh peaches to it, which are really lovely. (not my photo) http://tinyurl.com/lqqhjwp
My whole childhood is now ruined. Thanks bacteria.
Ok, I have to ask. What is the point of putting it out in the sun? To heat it up? If it is hot out, why would you want kind of warm tea as opposed to iced tea?
I am just confused by this whole endeavor.
@bruceoite The heat releases the fullness of the tea flavor. It also releases the antioxidants and their powerful health benefits. Using the cold water method robs the tea of both flavor and healthful benefits. If you want iced tea, make hot tea, pour over ice. You can also freeze tea into ice cubes so when you pour hot tea on it it is chilled but not diluted. Add fruit or flavorings to the ice cubes for a great party tea.
@moondrake Good to know about heat-released benefits.
What's so bad about bacteria? Not kidding, BTW. Saying that it is a decent place for bacteria to grow isn't meaningful. Think sourdough starter cultures, yogurt, kimchi, modern buttermilk, kefir, kombucha, miso, tempeh...
@JerseyFrank E. coli, salmonella, streptococcus, stapholococcus...not all bacteria are your friends. The noted article specifies "dangerous bacteria".
@JerseyFrank totally agree with what you're saying though, I roll my eyes whenever someone says "you shouldn't eat/drink that, it's full of CHEMICALS!" Everything is chemicals.
I used to make it until I got an iced tea maker. It's pretty awesome, you fill the pitcher with ice, the reservoir with water, put teabags in the brew basket, and 10 minutes later you have a perfect pitcher of iced tea. We use the hell outta that thing.