What specific temperature should one aim for when gently heating water on the stovetop as a controlled low-heat alternative?
Around $175^\circ\text{F}$
When the environmental uncertainty of the porch is removed, the stovetop offers a way to mimic the low-and-slow approach without relying on fluctuating ambient temperatures. This indoor technique bypasses the gamble entirely by allowing precise control over the thermal input. Instead of bringing the water to a rolling boil, which extracts harsh elements quickly, the suggestion is to gently heat the water just below the point of simmering. The target temperature for this careful warming process, allowing for subsequent pouring over the tea leaves, is specified as being approximately 175 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature achieves good extraction efficiency while remaining near the higher end of the desirable sun tea range.
