How to Make Iced Tea and Cold Brew Tea

There are two easy ways to make iced tea. Brew it hot at double strength and pour it straight over a glass of ice, or cold brew it by steeping the leaves in cold water in the fridge for 6 to 12 hours. Hot-brewed iced tea is ready in minutes; cold brew is smoother, naturally sweeter and lower in caffeine. Both work with loose leaf tea or tea bags.

Cold brew is not just a trend. Food science research shows cold water extracts tea differently: fewer of the bitter compounds and less caffeine, for a softer, rounder cup. [1] One study even found that cold-steeped white tea showed higher antioxidant activity than the same tea steeped hot. [2]

Iced Tea vs Cold Brew Tea at a Glance

	Hot-brewed iced tea	Cold brew tea
Water	Hot	Cold
Time	Minutes	6 to 12 hours in the fridge
Flavour	Fuller, classic brewed-tea character	Smoother, softer, naturally sweeter
Bitterness	Can turn bitter if over-steeped	Very low
Caffeine	Full	Lower [1]
Best when	You want it now	You can plan ahead
Equipment	Mug, pot or infuser	Jar, pitcher or infuser mug

Method 1: How to Make Iced Tea With Hot Water (Fast)

The trick is brewing double strength, so melting ice does not water it down.

Step 1: Choose Your Tea

Almost any tea you enjoy hot works iced. Black tea gives the classic iced tea; green tea is crisp and fresh; rooibos, mint, hibiscus and fruity herbal blends make beautifully refreshing cold cups.

Step 2: Brew It Double Strength

Use twice the normal amount of tea, but keep the normal steep time and temperature. Why more tea instead of more time? Steeping true teas longer pulls out bitter tannins. Extra leaf gives you strength without the bitterness. Use the right time and temperature from our steep time chart.

Step 3: Remove the Tea On Time

When the steep time is up, lift out the infuser or bags. The brewing stage is over, even though the drink is going over ice.

Step 4: Pour Over Plenty of Ice

Fill a heat-safe glass or jug with ice and pour the hot tea straight over it. The ice chills it instantly and dilutes it back to perfect strength. Too strong? Add more ice or a splash of cold water. Too weak? Use more leaf next time.

Iced Tea With Loose Leaf Tea

Same method: double the leaf in your infuser, brew at the right temperature, lift it out on time, pour over ice. New to loose leaf? Read How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea.

Iced Tea With Tea Bags

Use twice the bags for the amount of water, brew as directed, remove, pour over ice. Avodah's whole-leaf pyramid bags give the leaves room to open, so even bagged iced tea tastes full.

Why Is My Iced Tea Cloudy?

It is called "tea cream," and it is a sign of a full-bodied tea. When strong black tea chills fast, its theaflavins and caffeine bind together and cloud the glass. It is harmless. For crystal-clear iced tea, cool it to room temperature before adding ice, or cold brew it instead.

Method 2: How to Cold Brew Tea (Smoother)

Cold brew skips hot water entirely. Time does the work.

Step 1: Add Tea to Cold Water

Use about 1 to 1½ heaped teaspoons of loose leaf (or 1 to 2 bags) per 8 oz of cold, fresh water. Use a pitcher, a covered jar or an infuser mug.

Step 2: Refrigerate

Cover and place in the fridge. Cold water extracts slowly and gently.

Step 3: Steep for the Right Time

Tea type	Cold brew time
Green and white tea	6 to 8 hours
Oolong	8 to 10 hours
Black tea	8 to 12 hours
Herbal tea and rooibos	8 to 12 hours

The easiest rule: brew it before bed, strain it in the morning. Overnight in the fridge suits almost every tea.

Step 4: Remove the Tea and Serve

When it tastes right, lift out the leaves or bags. Cold brew keeps extracting slowly while the leaves stay in. Serve straight from the fridge or over ice.

How Long Does Cold Brew Tea Last?

Keep it covered in the fridge and drink it within 2 to 3 days, with the leaves removed. Add fresh fruit only just before serving.

Is Cold Brew Tea Less Bitter?

Yes. Cold water extracts fewer of the tannins and catechins that taste bitter and astringent, so cold brew tastes smoother and naturally sweeter. [1] Many people find they need little or no sweetener.

Does Cold Brew Tea Have Caffeine?

Yes, if the tea contains caffeine, but less than hot-brewed tea. Cold water extracts caffeine more slowly, so cold brew usually ends up lower. [1] It never makes a caffeinated tea caffeine-free. For zero caffeine, cold brew a herbal blend such as rooibos, mint or hibiscus. Full breakdown in Caffeine in Tea Explained.

Is Cold Brew Tea Healthier?

Cold brew holds on to more of tea's delicate compounds. Because it is never heated, nothing is scorched. In one study, cold-steeped white tea showed higher antioxidant activity than the same tea brewed hot. [2] Add the lower caffeine and lack of bitterness (which means less sugar), and cold brew is an excellent everyday choice.

Can You Cold Brew Herbal Tea?

Yes, and herbal teas make some of the best cold brews. Rooibos, mint, hibiscus, fruit blends and floral blends all shine cold. Blends with dense roots and spices may need the full 12 hours.

The Best Teas for Iced Tea

•             Black tea: bold and classic. Try Velvet Earl Grey iced with honey and lemon.

•             Green tea and oolong: light and crisp. Our floral oolong Lean Bloom is lovely cold brewed.

•             Rooibos: smooth, naturally sweet and caffeine-free.

•             Mint: cooling and refreshing.

•             Hibiscus: tart, ruby red and vibrant.

•             Fruity and floral tisanes: even brighter when chilled.

Which Avodah Teas Work Best Iced?

•             Quiet Mind: rooibos, lavender, rose and berries. Soft, floral and caffeine-free.

•             Belly Balance: rooibos and peppermint with cacao pieces. Cool and refreshing.

•             Sparkling Sunrise: ginger, turmeric and pineapple. Bright and vibrant over ice.

•             Pure Detox: green and black tea with ginger and turmeric. A stronger iced tea with caffeine.

•             Lean Bloom: floral oolong, beautiful cold brewed with a few berries.

How to Cold Brew Directly in Your Avodah Infuser Mug

The easiest cold brew there is.

Before bed: add your tea to the removable infuser, fill with cold water and put the mug in the fridge.

In the morning: taste it, lift out the infuser, add ice if you like and switch to the straw lid. Your cold brew is already in the mug you are taking with you. No pitcher, no strainer, no extra glass. The insulation keeps it cold for hours.

Explore the Avodah Infuser Mug | Full guide: How to Use Your Avodah Infuser Mug

Should You Sweeten Iced Tea Before or After Brewing?

Sweeten hot tea while it is still warm, because sugar and honey dissolve easily in heat. For cold brew, use simple syrup or a liquid sweetener. Taste cold brew first: its natural sweetness means you may need little or none.

Can You Add Fruit to Iced Tea?

Yes. Citrus, berries, peach, pineapple and fresh mint are all delicious. Add fresh fruit just before serving for the brightest flavour, and keep the finished drink in the fridge.

4 Easy Iced Tea Recipes to Try

1. Iced London Fog

Brew 2 teaspoons of Velvet Earl Grey in ½ cup (120 ml) of boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain, stir in a little honey and a drop of vanilla, pour over ice and top with cold milk or oat milk.

2. Hibiscus Berry Cooler

Cold brew a fruity hibiscus or berry blend overnight. Serve over ice with a handful of fresh berries and a squeeze of lime. Ruby red, tart and caffeine-free.

3. Iced Matcha Latte

Whisk 1 teaspoon of Green Zen in 60 ml of water at about 80°C until frothy. Pour over ice and top with cold milk. Sweeten with a little maple syrup if you like.

4. Half-and-Half Tea Lemonade

Brew black tea double strength, chill it, then mix half and half with fresh lemonade over ice. A summer classic, and lighter than a full glass of lemonade.

Common Iced Tea Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

1.          Steeping longer instead of using more leaf. Longer steeps make iced tea bitter. Double the leaf, keep the time.

2.          Pouring hot tea into a thin glass. Use a heat-safe glass or jug, or let the tea cool slightly first.

3.          Leaving the leaves in the cold brew for days. Strain it once it tastes right so it stays smooth.

4.          Sweetening cold tea with granulated sugar. It will not dissolve. Sweeten while warm, or use simple syrup.

5.          Storing it too long. Drink brewed iced tea within 2 to 3 days, and add fresh fruit only just before serving.

How to Make Sweet Iced Tea

Dissolve the sweetener while the tea is hot. Brew black tea double strength, stir in sugar or honey to taste while it is still warm, then pour over ice or chill in the fridge. Start with less than you think: cold drinks taste less sweet than warm ones, and you can always add more.

Hot-Brewed Iced Tea or Cold Brew: Which Should You Choose?

Choose hot-brewed iced tea when you want it now and love a classic, full brewed flavour.

Choose cold brew when you can plan ahead and want the smoothest, naturally sweeter cup with less caffeine.

Or use both: hot-brewed for the afternoon you did not plan, cold brew for the morning you did.

The Avodah Moment: Make Tomorrow's Cup Tonight

Avodah means devotion and service. So much of your devotion is invisible preparation: the lunches packed, the clothes laid out, the plans made for everyone else.

Tonight, prepare something for yourself. Before bed, drop your tea into cold water and slide it into the fridge. It takes thirty seconds. Tomorrow morning, before the day starts asking things of you, there will be something waiting that you made for you: cold, smooth and ready. Take the first sip slowly.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. This is where you fill yours.

Frequently Asked Questions About Iced Tea and Cold Brew Tea

How do you make iced tea?

Brew tea at double strength using the normal steep time and temperature, remove the leaves, then pour it over plenty of ice.

How do you make cold brew tea?

Add loose leaf or tea bags to cold water and refrigerate for 6 to 12 hours, then remove the tea.

How long should you cold brew tea?

6 to 8 hours for green and white tea, 8 to 12 hours for black, oolong, herbal and rooibos. Overnight works for almost everything.

How long does cold brew tea last in the fridge?

2 to 3 days in a covered container, with the leaves removed.

Is cold brew tea less bitter?

Yes. Cold water extracts fewer bitter tannins, so it tastes smoother and naturally sweeter.

Does cold brew tea have caffeine?

Yes, if the tea contains caffeine, but usually less than hot-brewed. Cold brew herbal tea is caffeine-free.

Can you make iced tea with tea bags?

Yes. Use twice the bags, brew as normal, remove them and pour over ice.

Why is my iced tea cloudy?

It is "tea cream," a harmless bond between theaflavins and caffeine in strong black tea that has chilled fast.

Can you cold brew any tea?

Almost any. Green, white, oolong, black, rooibos and herbal blends all cold brew well.

Find an Avodah Tea for Your Moment

Your day. Your tea. Your Avodah Moment.

References

1.          Lin SD, Yang JH, Hsieh YJ, Liu EH, Mau JL. Effect of different brewing methods on quality of green tea. J Food Process Preserv. 2014;38(3):1234-1243.

2.          Venditti E, Bacchetti T, Tiano L, Carloni P, Greci L, Damiani E. Hot vs. cold water steeping of different teas: do they affect antioxidant activity? Food Chem. 2010;119(4):1597-1604.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. Avodah teas are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition, speak with your healthcare provider before adding a new herbal tea to your routine.