If a sealed jar of tea is placed in a dark, warm storage shed on a hot day, what aspect of sun tea is being replicated?
Answer
The temperature curve associated with low, extended heat extraction.
The critical takeaway from comparing traditional practice with modern safety advice is that the desired mellow flavor profile is intrinsically linked to the *low, extended heat* process, rather than the physical presence of the sun itself. If a dark, warm storage shed can replicate the slow warming curve—where the temperature rises gradually over several hours—it essentially mimics the thermal reality of sun tea. This suggests that the specific thermal management, rather than the light source, is the key factor in achieving the low-tannin infusion, although replicating this outside the sun might introduce other container or heat management variables.

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