How to make fresh mint sun tea? It’s such an easy and magical process, combining fresh-cut peppermint (any variety is fine), clean water, and pure sunshine. For a keto/low-carb mint sun tea, sweeten with stevia; otherwise, you can use raw honey or drink it plain. It’s amazingly refreshing!

So you’ve got fresh mint coming out your ears, huh?

A couple summers ago, I planted 3 peppermint plants in front of our house, because peppermint is my favorite of all the herbs.

And now?

From June through September, we’ve got peppermint for drying, peppermint for hot tea, peppermint for mojitos, and peppermint for this Fresh Mint Sun Tea.

Trust me, should the Zombie Apocalypse come, I’m your girl for fresh peppermint. 😉

I’ve had people warn me about the peppermint plant. “It’ll take over your yard!” they say. Or, “You’ll never be able to get rid of it!”

And, they’re technically correct. Peppermint (and other varieties of mint like chocolate-mint, apple-mint, orange-mint, and spearmint) is one of those plants that’s hard to control or kill.

But, I don’t take pride in my yard. It’s full of “weeds” like dandelions, wild violets, white and red clover, and plantain — all with amazing medicinal and culinary uses, none of which I want to kill.

So, I’ll take the peppermint.

I love it, and it brings me joy to see it spread. If you know how to use it and cherish its value, it doesn’t have to be a nuisance.

Why Sun Tea?

Sure, you could just boil some water, pour it over your fresh mint, dilute it with cold water, and serve over ice. That makes a lovely iced mint tea.

But, there’s just something about fresh herbs + clean water + pure sunshine…

In my opinion, you’re getting the full essence or vibration of the mint by making Fresh Mint Sun Tea. It’s like making a flower essence — but an herb essence (and a really big batch of it!).

It may sound hippie-dippy, but that’s just how I feel about it. 🙂

Making sun tea requires no electricity or energy at all, outside of having a lovely time clipping fresh mint from your garden and cutting it up.

Once there’s water in the jar, the magic of the sun does the rest. I often leave mine to brew for a full 24 hours to harness the magic of the moon in my Fresh Mint Sun/Moon Tea, too!

How to Make Fresh Mint Sun Tea

Step #1 — Harvest fresh mint and give it a rough chop.

You need approximately 2 cups of the fresh herb once chopped. If you have a little more than this or a little less than this, it’s ok.

The beauty of making Fresh Mint Sun Tea is that is not about exact measurements. 🙂

Step #2 — Put all your chopped fresh mint into a half-gallon jar.

We’re not messing around here… We’re making an entire half gallon.

If you don’t have a half-gallon jar, divide the mint evenly between 2 quart-size jars instead.

Step #3 — Fill the jar (or jars) all the way to the top with fresh, filtered water.

I am fortunate enough to have pure, amazing well water. If you don’t, use filtered water, such as that from a Berkey water filter.

Don’t use tap water — because chlorine and fluoride and all that junk.

Step #4 — Put your water + mint mixture out in the sun.

Let it sit alllllllll day long. I usually leave mine out for a full 24 hours — all day in the sun, all night in the moon. 

You’ll know it’s ready when the water turns from clear to a greenish-brown tea color. The longer you let it sit, the more potent the flavor, the darker your tea will be.

#5 — Strain and drink!

When you’ve decided to call it on your Fresh Mint Sun Tea, bring the jar back inside the house and strain the leaves out.

I use a fine mesh sieve placed over a glass pitcher to catch the leaves, then press all the remaining water out of the leaves to “milk” it for as much peppermint-y goodness as possible.

You could also use a small mesh sieve and strain into glasses when ready to serve. 

Entirely up to you!

Want to Sweeten Your Fresh Mint Sun Tea?

Unsweetened, mint tea is lovely and herby, but personally, I prefer it with a touch of sweetness.

Nothing is better on a hot day than cold, slightly sweet Fresh Mint Sun Tea!

I simply use a tad bit of stevia to taste. My kids do this as well.

If you bring in your sun tea while it’s still warm from the sun, then strain, that would be an ideal time to stir in some raw honey, if you prefer honey over stevia.

Using stevia allows me to sip on glass after glass of my Fresh Mint Sun Tea without adding any calories, sugar, or carbs. Plus, it keeps this Fresh Mint Tea low-carb or keto, if that’s your thing.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use dried mint if I don’t have access to fresh mint?

Absolutely! You will need much less dried mint, however. Because the strength of dried herbs varies and depends on how it was grown, how old it is, exposure to light and/or heat and/or air, you may need to play with the amount of dried mint leaves you use. I would start with 1/2 cup of dried peppermint and adjust from there.

Will this get moldy if it sits in the sun and heat all day and night?

Nope! This is an herbal infusion, made with a naturally anti-fungal herb. Peppermint — dried or fresh — is not tea leaves, which are prone to mold. Using the fresh herb pretty much guarantees that mold won’t be an issue.

I’ve never once had a batch of this get moldy or have any off flavors whatsoever. Now, if you left it out for 2 or 3 days, you might have a problem. 

Can I make peppermint sun tea in a plastic pitcher?

I don’t recommend it. For the best infusion, glass is transparent allows light to fully penetrate the herbs and water, whereas plastic is translucent and diffuses the light. Also, plastic pitchers are pretty loaded with chemicals, like BPA and other toxins, that shouldn’t be exposed to light or heat. Using plastic for food preparation or storage guarantees that these toxins leach into your food/drink and go into your body, which is NOT good. Glass is best!

If it’s helpful, here’s the method for how to make Fresh Mint Sun Tea in recipe form.

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How to Make Fresh Mint Sun Tea

How to make fresh mint sun tea? It's such an easy and magical process, combining fresh-cut peppermint (any variety is fine), clean water, and pure sunshine. For a keto/low-carb mint sun tea, sweeten with stevia; otherwise, you can use raw honey or drink it plain. It's amazingly refreshing!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Sitting Time 10 hours

Author Rebecca Hansen

Ingredients

• 2cupsfresh, roughly chopped peppermint(other varieties of mint may also be used if you don't have peppermint)
• 1/2gallonfresh, filtered water
• pinchpowdered steviaor raw honey, to taste

Instructions

1. Roughly chop the fresh mint and place it in a half-gallon jar (or 2 quart-size jars).

   

2. Fill the jar(s) with fresh, filtered water. Place a lid on the jar(s).

   

3. Place outside, in the sun and let it all day. You can even leave it overnight if you want to infuse the moon's magic into your tea and have a very strong peppermint-y flavor.

   

4. Strain, press the last drops of water out of the mint leaves, sweeten if desired, and enjoy over ice.

5. Store leftover sun tea in the fridge or sweeten and pour into popsicle molds and freeze.

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• 4-Ingredient Cherry Lime Slushie
• Aquatic Greens Lemonade
• Ginger & Turmeric Kombucha
• 3-Ingredient Healthy Peach Slushie
• Healthy Chunky Monkey Milkshake
• Pineapple-Carrot-Turmeric Spritzer (The BEST Period Drink EVER)
• Dandy Blend Dalgona Coffee
• Keto Chocolate Collagen Shake

Do you make sun tea? Do you grow peppermint?

Originally published on July 4, 2019. Updated on June 16, 2020.