Cold Brew Iced Tea

During the dog days of summer, no beverage is as refreshing as a glass of iced tea. While sun tea remains a popular brewing method, cold brew tea is having a moment, too. But isn’t cold brew iced tea just…iced tea? Nope!

Most iced tea recipes steep the tea in hot water and then refrigerate the mixture until chilled. Cold brewed iced tea never comes in contact with heat. Instead, the tea is placed in cold water and steeped for several hours. Many people prefer this tea-brewing method because, like cold brew coffee, the end result has fewer tannins and tastes less bitter.

Our cold brew iced tea recipe creates a smooth, sweet steep. We’ll explain how to make it, along with different ways to flavor it and the best types of tea for cold brew tea.

Ingredients for Cold Brew Iced Tea

• Tea: At the end of the day, your favorite tea brand is the best tea for the job. If you don’t have one, I personally love Harney & Sons. If you want to use loose tea, steep the tea with a fillable tea bag or a tea infuser. Or, if you plan to make it regularly, consider investing in a cold brew coffee maker.
• Cold water: Use clean filtered water for the purest-tasting tea.
• Ice cubes: For those who like an icy drink, add ice cubes to your glass when serving.

Directions

Step 1: Steep the tea

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Get started by placing the tea bag in the water. Cover the container and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

Editor’s Tip: The longer you let it steep, the stronger (and darker) your tea will become.

Step 2: Remove the tea bag

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Remove the tea bag from the brewed tea. Gently squeeze the tea from the bag before discarding it.

Editor’s Tip: Squeezing the tea bag ensures you get every last drop of the tea’s flavor in your finished beverage.

Step 3: Serve with ice

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Pour your cold brew into a glass filled with ice.

Editor’s Tip: Add any mix-ins to the tea—sweeteners, lemon wedges, fruit, etc.—before adding the ice.

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Recipe Variations

• Sweeten the tea: Our cold brewed iced tea recipe is unsweetened, but you can adjust the sweetness level based on preference. Simple syrup, honey or liquid stevia are the best sweeteners for iced tea, as they blend seamlessly into the drink. Since this tea never gets hot, it won’t be able to dissolve granular sugars.
• Use a mix of different teas: Steep a few different types of tea together to create your signature brew. I personally love the combination of white and green tea.
• Infuse it with fruit and herbs: Add fresh fruit or herbs to your glass or pitcher before brewing the tea. Then, discard any added mix-ins when you remove the tea bags. Some of our favorite fruit and herb combos are: peach, lime and rosemary; honey, blueberry, oranges and basil; strawberries, blackberries and mint; or pineapple, cucumber and mint.

How to Store Cold Brew Iced Tea

Store cold brewed iced tea in a closed container in the fridge. If you made a large batch, you could store the tea in a pitcher as long as the top is covered with storage wrap.

How long does cold brew iced tea last?

Cold brew iced tea will last up to one week in the fridge.

Can you make cold brew iced tea ahead of time?

Cold brew iced tea can be made up to one week in advance if it’s kept in the fridge. If you’re increasing the measurements of this recipe to make cold brew iced tea for a party, keep in mind that it needs to be made at least 12 hours before serving.

Cold Brew Iced Tea Tips

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What are the best types of tea for cold brew iced tea?

We recommend using white, green and Oolong teas to make the best iced tea. Technically, any tea can be cold brewed, but not all teas are ideal for this method. Certain blends are better suited for cold brewing because of how they react to the cooler temperatures. For example, some robust black teas require heat to create fully developed flavors. However, an Earl Grey tea with subtle floral and lemon notes could be well-suited for cold brewing.

Does cold brewed tea have the same benefits as hot tea?

For the most part, cold brewed tea contains the same antioxidants and health benefits as hot tea. The only drawback is that hot tea can feel soothing on a sore throat when you have a cold. Cold brew won’t do that.

Is cold brewed tea better than hot brewed tea?

The cold brew process helps the tea retain some of its natural sweetness, whereas steeping tea in hot water can extract a bitter flavor. You may end up using less sugar or sweetener in cold brew tea.