Sun Tea

I started by filling this glass container with filtered water. This container hold 64oz.

I was looking for a black tea for this and found this stashed away. I don't really like Lipton teas, but I wild berry sounded good for Iced Tea.

 Because I'm using a 64 oz container, I put in 8 tea bags. Basically, a bag per 8 oz. I like my tea strong, so depending on your preference add as much tea as you like. Sun tea can also be made with loose leaf tea.

Here, I've gathered the ends and knotted them for easy removal. 

 I've secured the ends with a black rubber band.

 

 Put the lid on.

 Cover with a couple Coffee filters and secure with a rubber band.

 I set this outside in a full sun area at 7:30 am.

 Here the tea is at 3:00 pm.

 Here it is a 5:00 pm.

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 I brought the tea in a 5:00.

 Add a half cup of sugar, or to taste.

 Stir well and enjoy.

Sun Tea

Tomorrow I'll be making sun tea. I'm not sure what kind of tea I'll use... Probably some black tea I have hidden in my cupboards. I WILL NOT  be boiling this before or after. I'm not afraid, I've consumed sun tea since I was a little girl... and I've also consumed Kombucha, which has WAAAAY more bacteria than sun tea. BTW... Sun tea is pasteurized....  Survival specialists have used the power of the sun to pasteurize water for years. Pasteurization taking a substance and using low heat to kill the bacteria. Low heat and a long time. Also, if you stick this in the refrigerator afterwards, that slows the growth of bacteria to a stand still. I know that for a fact from petri dishes...

Not all bacteria are bad!!! The human body is NOT sterile. Adding natural bacteria found in most drinking water is adding competition for really bad bacteria like E.Coli 0104: H4... I'm not referring to the E.coli that's found in the human colon... I'm referring to the deadly kind of E.coli. The kind you study in Microbiology.

I'll be adding the sugar after its finished brewing and then sticking it into the fridge. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE.... Don't be afraid of sun tea or kombucha... both are very healthy in small amounts. The only time something bad happens is when there is an overgrowth or you consume too much. For instance, Gardia can be found in almost everyone's fecal matter in this Valley... why is no one sick? Because there isn't an overgrowth. People have enough competitive bacteria in their systems to fight it off. Kombucha can make people sick, but mostly its because of them consuming a 16 oz. bottle a day for a month... That's like drinking Apple Cider vinegar every day for a month. This can cause Metabolic Acidosis(http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/fashion/25Tea.html), and can be contaminated with a type of toxic fungus. Which is why I wouldn't recommend making your own or buying it from someone one off the street. But drinking bottled kombucha can supplement probiotics and can really whiten your teeth! Just don't drink it every day.

Numi Jasmine Green Tea

(Green/herbal) As this is green tea, it has a moderate amount of caffeine. This tea is certified Kosher, certified Halal, USDA Organic, and is Fair Trade. I've always really liked Jasmine tea, this one is particularly good. When you open the package (they come in individual packs), the scent is purely Spring. You can thank the Jasmine flowers for that!

This tea brews up to be a transparent grass green color. Pretty typical of green tea. The Jasmine scents the tea itself; the scent doesn't go away after it's brewed. To brew this tea, Numi recommends that this tea should be a first boil tea. You boil the water first and then let it cool a bit before pouring it over the teabag. Then steep for 2-3 min. I disregard that last note, but I prefer my tea stronger than most. If you do steep for longer, be aware that the astringency will increase the longer you steep. You can also make this into an iced tea, but I have yet to do that, as it takes longer and I have a patience problem.

The flavor is very astringent, that's the squeaky feeling you get in your mouth after drinking green tea or eating a Pomegranate.  But it's a clean taste with a astringent aftertaste. I really like this tea and recommend it. 9 out of 10

Ingredients: Fair Trade Certified Organic Green Tea and Organic Jasmine flowers. 

Hibiki-an Limited Edition Competition Grade Matcha

Type: Powdered Green. Price: $45. I love this tea!! Its the finest matcha I've ever tasted! Beautiful green color, smooth texture, beautiful flavor!!! So mild and sweet. Its perfect! Worth every penny! Unfortunately I can't get anymore of this tea until next year as the competition season has ended, but WOW! or should I say SUGOI!!! Absolutely superb in every way! 10 out of 10!!!

Koicha made with this tea.

Rice Aroma Pu-erh Tea

Type: Black; Pu-erh. I love Pu-erh, while black tea is my favorite, Pu-erh is my favorite black tea. I got this from Ebay, from berylleb, this was another sample they sent me with my purchase. The initial aroma of this tea is very starchy and warm. The tea comes in these compacted little disks, I was honestly afraid to try these at first since they come from a different country without the FDA... Not that I trust the FDA, but it was a very learned fear... Of course I had gotten these right after watching The Human Centipede, so my mind was a bit warped. Hahaha! Anyway, I told myself that this tea would be soaked in boiling water, so I made some and drank it anyway! When water is poured over this tea its very fragrant!!! Its so beautiful and it smells exactly like cooking rice. The color is black-red with gold undertones. This does become a loose leaf tea, so you will need a strainer. I usually drink Pu-erh as milk tea, so the liquid becomes a tan-ish pink. The flavor is very smooth and mellow. It does taste a bit like rice, but not in the way Numi's Toasted Rice Green Tea. This teas is much more subtle, which I like considering that I find the Toasted Rice to be a bit... strong, overpowering.

I definitely recommend this!!! 10 out of 10!

Organic Taiwan Jin Xuan Milk Dong Ding Oolong Tea

Type: Oolong. I love this tea... probably my favorite green tea so far. I got this as a sample from one of my orders from Ebay. The seller is berylleb. The tea comes in a single serving packet. First off, I think the packaging is beautiful!!! The tea is vacuum packed. The scent of this tea is incredible!! Its milky and sweet smelling. It brews very mellow in color. It a light green, but very transparent. The flavor is fresh and grassy, but not overpowering like Matcha can be. This tea is very mellow, its not at all bitter. Its very soothing to the pallet. Defiantly recommend this one. 10 out of 10!

Private Selecton: Rooibos Tea

Tea: Rooibos. This tea is Caffeine free, and only contains rooibos. Does the scent of some teas remind anyone else of crushed bugs!??????! Sometimes black teas, and I suppose this one now, smell exactly like insects to me... its very strange, and reminds me of my childhood killing grasshoppers! Anyway, this tea is red-ish brown, and smells like wet leaves in autumn, or crushed insects.... The honey kind of takes over the flavor of this tea, otherwise it pretty much tastes like leaves; its pleasant.

Review: Tazo: Zen

Tea: Green/herbal. Ingredients: Green tea, Lemon Verbena, Spearmint, and Lemongrass. The scent it herbal, the color is green-gold, and you can definitely taste the green tea and the spearmint. The taste is clean, but its not my favorite tea. There's something grassy about it, like chamomile.

Review: Zhena's Gypsy Tea; Coconut Chai

I love this brand and this specific tea! This is probably my favorite of the line. This Chai is a blend of Ceylon and Assam black tea, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, orange peel, nutmeg, black pepper, and coconut. This tea is all natural, organic, and certified Fair Trade, which I really support! It has about 40mg of Caffeine. The problem I've found with this tea, is that, to get a strong brew... you have to pretty extensively boil the tea bag, even then I add two. So it is a fairly weak tea, but its super delicious. I definitely recommend this! Zhena's Gypsy Tea.

Review: Numi; Emperor's Puerh

Tea: Black. This is an organic broad leaf tea, grown in the Yunnan Mountains. This is black tea, so id does contain caffeine. Puerh is fermented and aged for a period ranging from months to years. I prefer to have it tea with honey and cream, but the cream turns, the otherwise dark brown tea, pink!!! Its really strange, but the cream really brings out the malt flavor of the tea. The box says that the tea has "A dark Sienna" tone, which explains the pink tone. I'm a big fan of black teas, there one of my favorites, and this is one of the best teas that I've tried.

Review: Celestial Seasonings; Mint Magic

*I drink almost all tea with honey, except Orange Spice teas, Greens, and Whites. So I suppose this should be kept in mind since what you put into your tea can most definitely change the flavor.

I'm okay with this tea. Its caffeine free. Contains: Spearmint, Peppermint, Roasted Chicory, Cinnamon, and Orange peel. Its not my favorite mint tea, but its alright. This tea is very fragrant; the taste is also very potent. Basically, it tastes and smells of mint...lolz The color is transparent, herbal green, and, of course, it comes in a bag. I'm more a fan of loose leaf, but bagged tea can be just as good.

Koicha and Usucha

For matcha, the water should be around 176 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. (About 80 degrees Celsius or lower.) If the water is too hot then the matcha powder will scald and become very bitter. I prefer a lower temperature, because it tends to bring out the sweetness of the matcha.

Usucha- is thin matcha. For usucha you would use about 1.5 to two chashaku(about half a teaspoon) for every person who will be drinking the tea. This is sieved into the chawan. Then about 2.5 ounces(about 75 ml) of water are added per person. The tea is then whisked until a heavy foam covers the matcha and is served. Usucha isn't usually served for tea ceremonies, but can be used everyday.

Koicha - is thick matcha. About three to four chashaku(about one heaping teaspoon) are added per person to the chawan. The matcha is then sieved into the chawan. The water is then added, about 1.3 oz(40 ml) per person, and is then whisked. Because koicha is much thicker than usucha, this will not froth. Koicha is almost exclusively used for tea ceremonies.

Matcha Accessories

Chawan - this is a type of bowl/cup that matcha is served in. They are usually handmade and very expensive. In Japan, the more irregularities a chawan has the more expensive and better quality it is. They are high fire bowls, which mean that they and the glazes used on them are fired in a kiln at a very high temperature. If you don't own a chawan, then any small, shallow bowls will work fine. DO NOT DISH WASH!!!! Chawan must be hand washed otherwise the bowl's clay will absorb moisture and can collect bad flavors, scents, and become moldy.

Matcha Sifter/sieve- this is often used so the matcha won't clump and the texture will be smoother in the end product. While it isn't necessary, I would definitely advise using one. This, typically, can be dish-washed.

Chasen - the matcha whisk. They can either have 80 bristles or 120 bristles. I've owned both, and prefer the 120, simply because the texture and froth is easier to create with the 12o bristles. Chasen are handmade so be sure you take care of yours. Whisks should be rinsed in warm water prior to use, so the bristles become soft and won't break as easily. It should also be rinsed after use with warm water.

Kusenaoshi - this is a whisk keeper. I absolutely recommend this if you intend on buying a Chasen. A kusenaoshi helps the Chasen keep its shape, it aids in drying, and can prevent a lot of damage that can occur in the chasen. These are ceramic, and come in either light green or blue, I haven't seen any other colors, but let me know if there are.

Chashaku - this is the little bamboo scoop/spoon that is typically used in tea ceremonies. I love mine, when I didn't have one I used a silver spoon and the matcha stuck to it terribly, match just doesn't stick very well to it! Two chashaku are equal to about 1.5 to two grams of matcha, which sounds like a lot, but its really not.

Kyusu - a tea pot. Traditionally red, earthen ware, but any color can be used.

Yuzamashi - a water cooler. This looks like a tea pot without a a lid or spout.

Chaki - an airtight container used during tea ceremonies to keep matcha for use during the ceremony.

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a very finely ground green tea, it is milled to the point of being fine powder. (Which sticks to just about everything by the way!) This type of tea is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies. Matcha is a more expensive than other types of tea, so definitely be prepared. Generally, the brighter green the powder, the better the grade of matcha. Matcha should be a very bright grass green, there should not be a dry straw smell, a dark brownish color, or a deep green color. This means that the oxidation of the match has been compromised and shouldn't be used.

Sencha Matcha

This was one of my first orders from Hibiki-an. Its out of stock now, but I'm sure it will be back next year. I got a 30 gram container for about 25 dollars. I like the strength of this tea, but if your new to matcha then I wouldn't try this first. Matcha has a tendency to be bitter, and the stronger the tea, the more bitter it can be. 9 stars

Hibiki-an

www.hibiki-an.com

One of my FAVORITE sites!!!! Very easy to navigate. I love their products, and if your looking for really good quality Japanese green tea, this is the place to go! They have great, authentic tea accessories, as well as information on tea and tea culture! They've made ordering and payment very easy! You can use your PayPal!

When you get your order; it comes by air mail, which is super cool, everything is well wrapped in bubble wrap, so nothing has broken in the mail, for me at least. Your order will come in a dark green bag. Inside that bag will be another bag, this one is yellow, with a sort of quilted pattern, and then when you open that bag, there's your order and a postcard. The postcard is really cool it has four pictures of japan during summer, spring, autumn, and winter. Depending on where you live and what mail option you choose, you should get your order in about 5-7 days. I was really surprised by how quickly I got my orders.

If you like tea, I would definitely check out this site! 10 stars!