Table of Contents
How to Make Cold Brew Tea
What is Cold Brew Tea?
Making Your Cold Brew Tea
Best Teas for Cold Brew
Tips for Cold Brewing Tea
FAQ
How Many Tea Bags to Make a Gallon of Cold Brew Tea?
Can I Just Put a Tea Bag in Cold Water?
What Is the Ratio of Tea to Water for Cold Brew Tea?
Final Thoughts
Cold brew tea has become an increasingly popular way to enjoy a refreshing, chilled beverage, especially during the summer heat. Unlike traditional hot brewed tea, you steep cold brew tea in water at low temperature over an extended period, resulting in a smooth, light flavor with less bitterness.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make cold brew tea at home, this guide will walk you through the simple steps to create a delicious, refreshing drink perfect for cooling down on hot days.
What is Cold Brew Tea?
Cold brew means you brew tea by steeping tea leaves in cold water instead of hot water. This slow extraction process, which you typically do in the refrigerator, allows the tea to develop a mellow, smooth taste without the astringency and bitterness. Cold brewing produces iced teas that taste less bitter, feel more refreshing, and work perfectly as a cool beverage.
Because cold brew uses cool water and a longer steeping time—usually from 8 to 12 hours or overnight—it creates a lighter and more nuanced flavor profile. You can enjoy the subtle flavors and smoothness of cold tea, which makes it a favorite among tea enthusiasts. This method works great for preparing unsweetened iced tea, a popular and lighter option for those seeking a versatile, refreshing drink.
How to Make Your Cold Brew Tea
Making cold brew tea at home is easy and takes no prep time. Follow these simple steps to brew a pitcher of cold iced tea:
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Choose Your Tea: Pick your favorite loose leaf tea. Loose leaf tea is best for cold brewing because the leaves have more room to expand and release more flavor and aroma than tea bags. Black tea and green tea are great choices but fruit teas and herbal blends work well too. Choose teas that produce a clear flavor without bitterness.
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Measure the Tea: Use about one teaspoon of loose leaf tea per cup of cold water. Adjust to taste. For easy straining later use a fine mesh sieve, infuser or tea ball for loose leaf tea.
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Add Water: Fill a pitcher or water bottle with cold or cool water. Don’t use hot or boiling water when making cold brew since we want to extract flavor slowly and gently.
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Combine Tea and Water: Put the loose leaf tea in the pitcher or bottle then pour the cold water over it. This makes sure the leaves are fully submerged and ready to steep.
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Refrigerate: Cover the pitcher and put it in the fridge. Let it steep for 8-12 hours or overnight to get the best flavor. This slow steeping prevents bitterness and gives a smooth taste.
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Strain the Tea: After steeping, strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve or remove the infuser to separate the leaves from the liquid.
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Serve: Pour the tea over ice in a glass. For extra flavor consider adding a slice of lemon or a few pieces of fruit. Sweeten with sugar, simple syrup or enjoy it unsweetened for a better iced tea experience. This cold drink beats the summer heat.
This brews a tasty, refreshing tea that’s less bitter than hot tea so perfect for those who like a milder flavor.
Best Teas for Cold Brew
When cold brewing choose tea leaves for the best flavor and quality to optimize infusion and straining. Loose leaf tea lets the leaves fully expand and release their flavors and aromas more effectively, resulting in a smoother, more nuanced cold brew with better clarity and depth.
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Black loose leaf teas: Big flavor that can handle the slow cold steep.
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Green loose leaf teas: Light, grassy and refreshing flavor that’s especially nice chilled.
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White loose leaf teas and herbal blends: Like chamomile or hibiscus make great cold brews, delicate and natural flavor without bitterness.
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Fruit teas: Cold brewing fruit teas from loose leaves brings out their natural sweetness and aroma, often no need for added sweeteners.
Choose fresh, whole tea leaves with large leaves or pieces to ensure maximum flavor extraction during the cold brewing process and make your iced tea experience truly exceptional.
Tips for Cold Brewing Tea
To get the most out of your beverage, keep these tips in mind:
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This cold brew method works well with all kinds of tea—black, green, white, or herbal—producing a smooth and light brew with minimal bitterness.
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Whether you use common brands or specialty loose leaf teas, cold brewing offers an easy and effective way to enjoy tea.
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If you prefer sweet tea, liquid sweeteners such as simple syrup dissolve faster in cold tea than granulated sugar, though sugar will eventually dissolve if stirred well.
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Experiment with adding sliced lemon, fresh fruit, or herbs to your drink for extra flavor and a refreshing twist. You can also mix different teas or flavors to discover your own version of the best iced tea.
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Use a pitcher or a water bottle with a tight seal to prevent the tea from absorbing odors in the refrigerator.
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For the best taste, steep your tea overnight in the fridge, allowing all these variables—tea type, water temperature, steeping time—to come together for optimal flavor.
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Most importantly, enjoy the process and treat cold brewing as part of your cooking adventures in the kitchen.
FAQ
How Many Tea Bags to Make a Gallon of Cold Brew Tea?
Use 8-12 tea bags or 8-12 teaspoons of loose tea for a gallon. This will give you a balanced flavor that’s not too weak or too strong.
Can I Just Put a Tea Bag in Cold Water?
Yes, you can put a tea bag in cold water. But you’ll need to steep it longer—8-12 hours in the fridge—to get all the flavor.
What Is the Ratio of Tea to Water for Cold Brew Tea?
The typical guideline is to use one tea bag or one teaspoon of loose leaf tea for every 8 ounces of cold water. Feel free to adjust the amount based on your preferred strength and flavor intensity.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to make cold brew iced tea opens up a world of delicious iced tea options for summer or anytime you want a cold drink. By using cold water and letting the tea steep in the fridge, you avoid the bitterness of hot tea and get a smooth, light flavor that’s easy to customize.
Whether you like black tea, green tea or fruity blends, cold brew tea is a simple and fun way to stay cool and refreshed. So grab your favorite tea, fill a pitcher with cold water and start brewing your own ice-cold tea today!
Ready to try a wide range of high quality teas perfect for cold brewing? Visit Taste of Tea to find your new favorite blend and level up your iced tea game!
