Fill a clean, glass 2-quart pitcher with water and add 4-6 tea bags. Close the lid and set the pitcher in a bright, sunny place. Someplace outside is the best, where the sun can have direct contact with the jar, but if you happen to live in an apartment where putting the jar outside is not an option, a windowsill works fine as well. I typically use the fire escape outside my apartment. Keep the pitcher in the sun for about 3-5 hours depending on how strong you like your tea. You may have to move the pitcher as the sun moves throughout the day. Once the tea has finished ???brewing,??? bring the pitcher inside and remove the tea bags. If you prefer sweet tea (which is definitely the way I prefer it!) it is best to sweeten the tea immediately after removing it from the sunlight. Keep the tea in stored in the refrigerator and enjoy!

Depending on the type of tea you are using for your homemade sun tea, there are lots of ways you can vary the taste of your tea. Try adding slices of lemon, oranges, cinnamon sticks, or fresh mint leaves before setting the pitcher out in the sun for some fun, flavorful varieties!

Editor’s note: Stay tuned later in the week for another author’s take on making sun tea.

When I woke up to the sounds of thunder and rain hitting my windowsill this morning, a wave of nostalgia hit me. Since I had the day off work anyway, I decided to sit aside the piles of paperwork sitting on my desk and watch the storm the way my sister and I used to. I laid out my big green quilt, dumped out my Rubbermaid full of Legos that usually stays hidden under my bed as a remembrance of days long past, popped a chick flick into my DVD player, and went to make myself a cup of hot tea.

My boyfriend, Tom, had made the last grocery shopping trip on his own and he bought the variety box of teas. After grabbing the box of assorted teas, I quickly noticed that the only type left was green tea. I was a little disappointed not to be able to have my usual cup of Earl Grey, but since I had no other option, I used the green tea. I told myself, “Oh well, Leah, it’s healthier for you anyway.” Then I realized that I had no idea how or why green tea was healthier. So while the tea was brewing, I took some time to research the health benefits of drinking green tea. What I found amazed me and I decided I simply must share it with all of you out there who also have no idea what these remarkable green leaves can do for you!

Drinking green tea on a regular basis can reduce your risk of cancer, aid in reducing inflammation due to arthritis, reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, aid in your immune system’s functions, lower cholesterol, reduce risks of infection, aid in formation of blood clots, and even help prevent tooth decay! The “powerhouse” behind this amazing drink is the anti-oxidants that are found in the leaves. Green tea is actually the richest natural source of powerful anti-oxidants on the planet!

Thankfully, adding sugar, milk, or lemon to the tea does not affect in any way the health benefits derived from drinking green tea. Which is wonderful for me, because I love adding tons of sugar and lemon to my drinks! The only negative side effect that can be found from drinking green tea is that some people have developed insomnia due to the natural caffeine that is found in green tea. However, it still contains less caffeine than coffee, so it is definitely a better alternative to the morning cup’o'joe.

Studies at the University of California show that to get the maximum amount of benefits from this “miracle drink,” you should drink 4-5 cups of green tea per day. Personally, I don’t think I could handle that… I do love a nice, hot cup of tea, but I doubt I could ever overcome my coffee addiction. However, for those of you that could– you will most likely live a few years longer than I will!

Well, now that I have passed along my new-found knowledge of green tea’s health benefits, and my tea is finished brewing, I am going to go play with my Legos, watch the thunderstorms roll in, and drink my nice, healthy cup of green tea.

About three weeks ago, when the Green Tea Frappuccino was first introduced to the Starbucks family, I was at home in Pennsylvania visiting my family. I took my six year old brother, Jacob, to Starbucks with me to pick up my daily dose of joe. I asked Jacob if he wanted anything and he pointed to the picture on the counter and replied, “Oooh, Sissy, I want this green drink!” I highly doubted it would be something he would enjoy, but only because he was so cute I had to buy him a small one. As soon as he took his first drink, he became a Starbucks addict. We hadn’t even made it back to the house (less than half a mile away) before he was sucking the remaining whipped cream out of the bottom of his cup. When I asked him what he thought of the drink, he exclaimed, “That was the best coffee I’ve ever had!”

Well, today has been the first warm day all month here in the great city of New York, so in celebration of summer’s arrival, I decided to try my first ever Starbuck’s Frappuccino. Following my little brother’s advice, I ordered a Green Tea Frappuccino. I admit it was a little difficult to bring myself to drink something that looks like it came from Nickelodeon, but I’m glad I did! The light tea flavor was incredibly refreshing and very enjoyable on such a warm day. There was a hint of syrupy sweetness that only added to the wonderful flavor. By the time I made it back to my apartment on the next block, I too found myself desperately trying to get the last little bits of green deliciousness that lay at the bottom of my cup. There must be a more sophisticate way to express the way I feel about this drink, but I will have to agree with Jacob and say, “This was the best coffee I’ve ever had….”

Theatre is her main obsession and she has found over the years that it is impossible to work in the theatre and not develop an insane addiction to coffee. She hates monotony more than anything and therefore enjoys trying every different blend of teas and coffees at every different cafe she can find. Thankfully, New York City is the perfect place to be to promote her expansive tastes!