How to Make Cold Brew Iced Tea

Make a delicious and refreshing glass of cold brew iced tea this summer. The flavor possibilities are endless.

Everyone has heard of hot tea and iced tea, but what about cold brew tea? Cold-brew tea is an alternative to iced tea, although you can certainly serve your cold-brew tea over ice if you would like.

Cold brew tea is made using cold water instead of hot or boiling water and steeping the tea for a longer period of time, typically overnight in the refrigerator.

Let’s take a moment to answer some questions about cold brew tea, how to make it, and why you should try it. 

What is the best type of tea for cold brew tea? 

You can use any type of tea leaves to make your cold brew including oolong, herbal, black, green, white, and puerh tea. Oolong tea does seem to be a favorite of those who enjoy cold brew tea due to its naturally sweet flavor.  You can use loose-leaf tea or a quality teabag.

How long does this tea need to steep? 

Cold brew tea can be brewed for as little as two hours, but to really allow the flavor to develop it needs to brew for longer. Typically cold brew tea is placed in the refrigerator and allowed to steep for 8 to 12 hours. Many people like to make cold brew tea before they go to bed, and they can have a nice refreshing glass of tea when they wake up in the morning. 

Can you brew in the refrigerator for too long?

No, you can not brew cold brew tea for too long. You can even safely allow your tea to steep for twenty-four hours in the refrigerator. One of the many advantages of cold brew tea is that it will not over-steep or taste too strong or bitter no matter how long you leave it to steep. 

What is the best way to sweeten tea?

The best way to sweeten cold brew tea is to use a simple syrup. Since the tea is cold, sugar and honey won’t dissolve and distribute evenly throughout the brew. You can make a simple syrup by dissolving or melting sugar into hot water using a 1:1 ratio.

So if you are using a cup of sugar then you need a cup of water. Once your simple syrup has cooled place it in the refrigerator until you need it. Simple syrup can last in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.  

What is the ratio of water to tea? 

The ratio of water to tea for cold brew tea depends on your taste preference. However, the most commonly used ratio is one tablespoon of loose-leaf tea for every 8 ounces of water that you are using or 1 teabag per 6-8 ounces of water. You can adjust this to your liking.

How do you make cold tea? 

Cold brew tea is very simple to make. Simply fill a clean glass container with water, measure out your tea leaves, and place it in the refrigerator to steep. You will need 1 teabag or 1 TB of loose-leaf tea per 6-8 oz of water. You can steep it for as little as 6 hours or up to 24 hours. It is impossible to over-steep cold brew tea. You can always adjust your amount of tea per liking.

Once you are ready for a glass of your tea strain the brew to remove any tea leaves. 

What are the benefits? 

Cold brewing your tea reduces the caffeine content and is less acidic than hot brewed teas. This can be a game-changer for those who want to enjoy tea but have sensitive stomachs. Cold brew tea is also smoother and naturally sweeter in flavor. 

Is cold brew tea caffeinated?

Yes, cold brew tea is caffeinated, however, it only contains about half of the caffeine that you would find in a cup of hot brewed tea. The process of cold brewing reduces the amount of caffeine in the final result. You can always purchase uncaffeinated tea to start with and you will not have any caffeine.

How long does brewed tea last?

Cold-brew tea is good for up to seven days as long as it remains refrigerated. You can leave it at room temperature for about 24 hours. After that, you should discard any remaining tea and make a fresh batch. If your tea starts to get bitter, it has probably been in the fridge for too long and it should be discarded.

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Products Used in This Recipe:

• Mason Jars
• Mason Jar Glasses with Handles
• Lipton Loose Leaf Tea From Local Market
• Adagio Green Cold Brew Tea
• Adagio Mango Black Cold Brew Tea

Read These Beginner’s Guide to Tea:

• Beginner’s Guide to Black Tea
• Beginner’s Guide to Green Tea
• Beginner’s Guide to Herbal Tea
• Beginner’s Guide to White Tea

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