Cold Brew Tea Made Simple

There is a version of iced tea that most people have never tried, and once they do, the kind made with hot water poured over ice starts to feel like a compromise. Cold brew tea is smoother, naturally sweeter, and gentler on the flavor of the leaf because it never gets near heat. It just needs time. Here is everything you need to know to make it at home.

What Cold Brewing Actually Does

When you brew tea with hot water, heat extracts flavor quickly but it also pulls out tannins, the compounds responsible for that sharp, sometimes bitter edge. Cold water extracts flavor slowly and leaves most of those tannins behind. The result is a cup that is clean, rounded, and easy to drink without sweetener, though sweetener is always welcome if that is your preference.

How to Make It

You need a 64 oz pitcher, your loose leaf tea of choice, filtered cold water, and patience. That last ingredient is the only one that takes any getting used to.

Add one quarter cup of loose leaf tea directly to your pitcher. Pour in filtered cold water until the pitcher is full. Cover it and place it in the refrigerator. Let it steep for eight to twelve hours, or overnight if that is easier to remember. When it is ready, strain out the leaves and serve over ice.

If you want it sweet, add liquid stevia, honey, or simple syrup to taste. If you want it interesting, drop in a few slices of fresh fruit, a squeeze of lemon, or a sprig of mint. Cold brew tea stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to five days, though it rarely lasts that long.

The Best Teas for Cold Brewing

Almost any loose leaf tea cold brews beautifully but some shine particularly bright with this method. Lady TéAqua, our strawberry fruit blend, becomes almost dessert-like when cold brewed. Pink Passionfruit Oolong turns into the kind of summer drink people ask you for the recipe on. Hibiscus produces a deep, jewel-toned pour that looks as stunning as it tastes.

Start with whichever TéAqua blend you already love hot and discover what it becomes when you slow things all the way down.