The New Brew: Cold Brewing Iced Tea
What exactly is cold brew iced tea? And how do you make it?
There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.
Nothing satisfies a summertime craving quite like iced tea. Cold brewing is a simply delectable way to make great-tasting iced tea. Just like with cold brew coffee—considered the gold standard for iced coffee—this method involves infusing loose tea leaves in cold water overnight to slowly bring out the light and sweet notes of the tea.
At the peak of summer, our cravings are unique. We delight in sweet, fruity flavors and cold, refreshing beverages to help us beat the heat. When navigating our vast selection of loose leaf teas, you might be left scratching your head, wondering what will quench your seasonal thirst the best. Fear no more!
Let's start with the basics: how to cold brew tea.
While most teas can be consumed hot or cold, certain varieties will have a stronger impact on ice. Avoid spicy or smoky ones for this method; unless an iced chai latte is your style, you're better off enjoying these more exotic blends hot.
To cold brew your tea, add 1 tsp. of tea to every 6-8 ounces of water in your favorite iced tea maker or pitcher. Let it brew for at least four hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Discard or strain the tea leaves. Keep the pitcher refrigerated, and if desired, you can add ice in when serving.
For those of you who like your iced tea with a fuller flavor, we have an option for you too! Brew your tea as you normally would (with hot water) and refrigerate it until its cold enough for you! Add iced if you like it really cold!
Now that we have the method down, we can talk flavor.
Just like our clothing in these torrid months, it's important to keep our tea flavors light. White teas are a good choice because of their milder, more delicate balance.
Green teas are also a great choice, as they are versatile in terms of temperature and have quite a range – some are nuttier, some are leafier.
For our staff picks, head over to our tea section. You'll notice many herbal tisanes in this section. That is because herbs, spices, fruits, flowers, and botanicals make for delicious, refreshing, naturally-caffeine free iced teas.
Why cold brew over the hot-to-cold method?
Now that you have the scoop on cold brew, you might be wondering why it beats regular brewing in many cases. A little-known fact is that brewing tea using heat can bring out astringent flavors that won’t translate well when consumed cold. But when you steep tea in cold water, the naturally occurring tannins in the leaves don’t extract as easily, meaning your cup will be both less bitter and less caffeinated than hot tea that is later cooled. How’s that for refreshing?
And of course, summertime beckons cold brew tea as a great and naturally sweet alternative to sugary bottled iced teas and lemonades, iced coffees that lead to jitters, artificial sodas, heavy dairy-based drinks, and other less-than-wholesome beverages. Drinking cold brewed iced tea is also a way to get the same tea fix you get for the rest of the year; all that’s changed is the temperature.
What about add-ins?
Like a scoop of ice cream missing its sprinkles, sometimes our teas (especially when they're iced) call for some fun add-in ingredients.
To complement a citrus or berry tea, chop up some fresh mint; this will cut the sweet notes with the herb's cooling effect.
On the other hand, a simpler black or green tea might benefit from some diced fruits. Try in-season peaches, juicy oranges, sugary melon, or tangy berries to liven up a cold-brewed pitcher. Besides adding flavor, this technique also adds volume to the beverage without diluting the flavor – a key for entertaining thirsty guests.
Here’s an easy 4-step recipe, adapted from Dani Spies.
We like to put our gourmet twist on it by always using loose tea leaves
to amplify flavor and ensure quality.
Pour loose leaf tea leaves into a container or pitcher (ideally one made of glass and lidded). Use 1 teaspoon for every 6 to 8 ounces of water, depending on your preferred strength. If you are using a pitcher with a built-in strainer, pour the tea into the strainer for easy removal later on.
Pour room-temperature water over the tea leaves. (The amount will depend on the size of your jug, as noted in step one.)
Secure the lid and refrigerate so the tea infuses overnight, for about 8 to 12 hours.
Strain the leaves out and enjoy your cold brew! (You can leave the tea leaves in the brew for longer depending on the tea type – this works well with herbal teas.) Add your sweetener or mix-ins of choice, like honey, berries, lemon, cinnamon, or mint, and serve over ice!
Fun fact: Did you know that drinking hot tea in hot weather can actually help cool you down?
This is because the hot tea makes you sweat, and when your sweat evaporates, your skin chills. But fair warning, this won't work in humid weather; your sweat won't evaporate the same way!
Love spending time outdoors?
Here's another fun way to add iced tea to your summertime fun: Try our Sun-Brewed Recipe here!
This post was adapted, with permission, from the Heavenly Tea Leaves blog.
