What is stated as the primary difference between shade brewing and sun brewing sun tea?
How long you can safely leave it unattended before it requires refrigeration.
Although both methods aim to produce refreshing iced tea outside of a standard stovetop process, the primary distinction between utilizing direct sunlight and relying solely on ambient shade temperature is temporal risk management. Direct sun provides external heat that can help keep the liquid temperature higher within the danger zone, potentially aiding microbial inhibition during infusion. Shade brewing, conversely, keeps the water temperature squarely in the bacterial growth range (70°F to 80°F) for much longer periods. Therefore, the crucial difference centers on the necessary monitoring of the clock and the absolute limit on unattended steeping time before immediate refrigeration must occur to maintain safety.
