With very little effort and few ingredients, you can make your own solar or sun tea, refrigerate it and serve a refreshing pitcher of iced tea for dinner. Here's what you need:

• Clear glass or plastic pitcher, or a large glass jar
• Plastic food wrap to cover the pitcher
• Tea bags - regular, decaf or herbal
• Lemon
• Sugar or sweetening alternative
• Ice cubes

Early on a sunny morning, place at least 2 tea bags in a pitcher or large jar and fill with water.

If you like strong tea, you can increase the amount of tea bags you use. Cover the top with plastic food wrap to seal the container. Warm water will speed up the sun-steeping process. Place the pitcher in a sunny location till afternoon. No stirring required at all. The sun will slowly steep your tea.

Mid afternoon, bring the pitcher in, remove tea bags, add a tablespoon of lemon juice to a quart or litre of tea, or adjust to suit your taste. Sweetening is a matter of choice, you can omit it, add a teaspoon of sugar or alternative per quart, or let everyone add their own. Refrigerate till dinner time and add ice cubes at serving time.

Sun-steeped tea has been popular in hot climates for years, but it can be made even in colder climates. A hot sunny day is all that's needed. Making homemade iced tea is so easy and it can certainly stretch your food budget. Make a refreshing pitcher of solar iced tea tonight!

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