If someone defines sun tea by its *result* rather than the solar radiation process, what characteristic defines the infusion?

A smooth, mellow, low-tannin infusion.

If the definition of sun tea shifts away from the physical presence of the sun as a necessary ingredient and focuses instead on the intended *result*, the defining characteristic is the flavor profile achieved: a smooth, mellow, low-tannin infusion. This flavor profile is the direct consequence of utilizing low, extended heat for extraction. The sun is merely one environmental tool capable of achieving this desired thermal condition, but it is not the only one. Defining it by the result means that if a method produces the characteristic smooth taste—even if achieved via a hybrid approach or perhaps a very hot, non-solar environment that replicates the temperature curve—it fulfills the desired outcome sought by traditional enthusiasts.