Welcome to Flawed yet Functional! If you’ve wandered over for the first time, I like to encourage my readers to live a healthy life in the food they eat, how they care for their home, and manage their long-term health. Today I want to chat about drinks. Tasty beverages can run up our calorie and carbohydrate count quick, fast, and in a hurry: 70 carb, 440 calorie frappuccino, anyone? Delicious, refreshing summer drinks don’t have to break your diet! Cinnamon spice sun tea is refreshing and has no sugar, dairy, gluten,or even carbs in it. It’s a guilt-free summer pleasure. Bring back sun tea!

Now I haven’t made sun tea since I was a kid, and I had to make several batches before I landed on a strength that I liked the best. So I’m going to show you step by step because you just might be like me and not know/remember how to make this super simple drink!
First, you need Harney & Son’s Cinnamon Spice loose leaf tea, a gallon glass jar with a lid, and water. That’s it! You are going to be amazed how such a simple process and ingredients can produce such a delicious beverage! I’m not exaggerating, folks. You just have to try this! (I just saw you can subscribe to have it delivered at any frequency! Ha! I think I might need this!)
Scoop 5 tablespoons of loose leaf tea into the gallon jar and fill with filtered water. I use the filtered water from my refrigerator.
Have I mentioned yet that my husband and I are go big or go home people? We have actually tested whether filtered water or tap water actually make a difference in tea brewing. I’m here to testify it does. Filtered water produces a brighter, truer flavor from the tea. I’ve even tried leaving tap water sitting out overnight to let the chlorine evaporate, and the filtered water was still better. Now you know.
Screw the lid on tight so bugs can’t get in and set that jug in a nice sunny spot! Make sure it is a spot that will get sun for 4-6 hours. If I make sun tea in the morning, I put it on my front step; if in the afternoon, I put it on the back deck. Just take note of the sun before putting it out.
Let the tea do its thing in the sunshine for 4-6 hours. I usually stop at 4 hours, but I have forgotten it outside for more than 6. The timing is loose, but at least 4 hours is needed.
Bring that sweet nectar inside and strain out the tea leaves. I use a fine mesh strainer with a paper towel lining it. Cheese cloth would be the proper item, but you work with what you have! The mesh strainer works ok by itself, but it does let a small amount of sediment into the tea.
Pour into a pitcher, chill, and enjoy!
I have been drinking this like its my job this summer. As you know, I like my hot drinks in the morning, but once the summer the summer heat hits, I just can’t do hot tea or coffee. I’ve switched to cinnamon spice sun tea, and it is that refreshing kick I love in the morning!
Sun tea is super easy! You just need tea, water, sun, and time. If you usually put sugar in your tea, I think you will be pleasantly surprised, no shockingly surprised, by how good cinnamon spice sun tea is without sugar. It will be your new favorite, I guarantee it!
What is your go-to refreshing summer drink? Are you a tea drinker? Sweet or unsweet? Any other low-carb summer drink suggestions?

Cinnamon Spice Sun Tea
Sun tea is the perfect, guilt-free summer drink! Brewing in the sunshine lends for a mellow, mild flavor that is delicious and refreshing.
Ingredients
- 5 Tbsp cinnamon spice tea loose leaf
- 1 gallon water filtered
Instructions
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In a one gallon glass jar, add the cinnamon spice loose leaf tea.
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Fill the jar with filtered water and secured with a tight-fitting lid.
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Place in the sun, outside, for 4-6 hours.
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Filter out the tea leaves by pouring the tea through a fine mesh strainer lined with a paper towel or cheese cloth.
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Pour into pitchers, chill, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Zero carbs, zero calories this is the perfect guilt-free summer drink!
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