Making Sun Tea: A Simple Ritual with the Hidden Power of Structured Water
Sun tea isn’t just a nostalgic summer tradition—it’s a low-tech method that taps into a surprising scientific benefit: the natural structuring of water by sunlight.
Here’s how to make it, why it works, and what structured water has to do with your health.
What Is Sun Tea?
Sun tea is exactly what it sounds like—tea brewed using the heat and light of the sun instead of boiling water. You fill a glass jar with clean water, add your tea bags or herbs, and set it in the sun for a few hours. That’s it. No stove, no electricity, just sunlight doing the work.
But here’s the part most people miss: when you brew tea this way, you’re not just infusing flavors—you’re subtly changing the structure of the water itself.
Structured Water: What It Is and Why It Matters
Water isn’t just H₂O. In nature, water moves, swirls, flows over rocks, and absorbs sunlight. During that process, its molecular structure can shift into a more organized state known as structured water. This makes water more bioavailable—easier for our cells to absorb.
One key force that structures water? Light. Specifically, the full-spectrum light of the sun.
How Sunlight Structures Water
Dr. Gerald Pollack, a researcher in water science, found that when water is exposed to sunlight, it can form what’s known as an “exclusion zone” (EZ) — a more ordered, gel-like layer of water that holds a charge and stores energy. It’s like a natural battery built by light.
When you place a glass jar of clean water in the sun it absorbs infrared and UV light. This exposure helps it shift into that structured state. If you’re brewing tea, that structured water becomes the base for your drink.
In other words, sun tea doesn’t just taste better—it has better health properties!
Sun Tea Recipe
You’ll Need:
1 gallon glass jar (clean, with a lid or cover)
4–6 tea bags (black, green, herbal, or a mix)
Fresh filtered water
Optional: fresh herbs (mint, basil), lemon slices, or berries
Steps:
Fill the Jar: Pour 1 gallon of filtered water into the clean glass jar.
Add Tea Bags: Add 4–6 tea bags (fewer for green/herbal, more for black/robust teas). Tie the strings together to make removal easy.
Cover: Put the lid on loosely or cover with a clean cloth or beeswax wrap to keep out dust and bugs.
Place in the Sun: Set the jar in direct sunlight for 2–4 hours (not longer—see safety note below).
Remove Tea Bags: Once the tea reaches your desired strength, remove the bags.
Chill and Serve: Refrigerate and serve over ice. Add lemon, honey, or herbs if desired.
Sun Tea Safety Tips:
Use filtered or boiled water (especially if your area has questionable water).
Don’t brew for more than 4 hours; bacteria can grow in lukewarm conditions.
Refrigerate immediately after brewing.
The sun and The Son
As your tea brews in the sun, consider praying or journaling outside. Reflect on this verse:
“The sun rises, and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.” – Ecclesiastes 1:5
What is God gently brewing in your life under the warmth of His light? 🥰
