The Ultimate Guide to Cold Brew and Iced Tea

Nothing says “Summer!” like iced tea! It’s refreshing and easy to make. But have you also heard of cold brew tea? How about sun tea? And how do these beverages differ?

Iced Tea vs. Cold Brew

There is one simple difference between iced tea and cold brew:

• Iced tea is brewed with hot water, then chilled
• Cold brew is steeped in cool water

Pros and Cons

Iced tea and cold brew are both great ways to make tea, each with their own benefits and drawbacks.

1. Flavor

Hot water extracts certain compounds like catechins and caffeine from the tea leaf, which aren’t released as effectively by cold water. These substances can have a strong, bitter flavor.

As a result, cold brew tea usually has a smoother, gentler flavor than iced tea. This is good or bad, depending on your personal flavor preferences.

2. Health Benefits

The difference in the extraction of compounds between hot and cold water means that iced tea may provide more health benefits than cold brew. You may also feel a stronger effect of caffeine from iced tea.

3. Time & Convenience

Iced tea is brewed with hot water, which can be poured over ice for quick cup that takes only 2-5 minutes to make (see recipe below). In contrast, cold brew always takes longer to brew, anywhere between 20 minutes and 12 hours.

However, in certain situations such as travel, you may have plenty of time but no access to a kettle. Or if the weather is very hot and there is no air conditioning, boiling water can create an uncomfortable amount of heat. In these cases, cold brew is much more convenient to make.

Recipes for Cold Brew & Iced Tea

If you’ve never made iced tea before, this section is for you! Remember that each person tastes tea differently. If you prefer your tea stronger or lighter, adjust to taste and try again.

A few recommendations of teas to try cold:

• Mountain Green Tips (Mao Feng Green)
• Honey Orchid Phoenix Mountain
• Jasmine Pearls
• A Li Shan Oolong
• Dragon Well

2 Iced Tea Recipes

If you drink your tea with a sweetener such as sugar, honey, or agave, make sure to mix the sweetener into the hot tea before chilling. It is difficult to dissolve in cold tea.

Fast Iced Tea Recipe

How to make iced tea in just a few minutes:

Yield: 12 fluid oz

1. Prepare a 12 oz cup or pitcher, filled with ice cubes.
2. Brew 4-6 grams (about 1 tbsp) of tea in hot water for 2 to 3 minutes. The water temperature will depend on what type of tea you are brewing.
3. Pour the strained tea over the ice cubes. Done!

Tips: Use high quality ice cubes for the best flavor. Filtered water, spring water, or water that has been boiled are preferable to tap water, to avoid any chlorine or other strange flavors.

It is also best to use fresh ice cubes, that have not sat in the freezer absorbing flavor for too long.

Finally, make sure to use a cup or pitcher that is safe for temperature changes. Avoid glass and other thin or delicate teaware, which may crack.

Slow Iced Tea Recipe

This one is easy – prepare the tea in the manner that you normally would for hot tea. Allow the tea to cool slightly at room temperature, and then place it in the fridge to chill the rest of the way. Enjoy!

Cold Brew Tea Recipe

Cold brew is not made with hot water, so make sure to choose a fresh, clean, high quality tea from a source that you trust.

First, because the tea will not be “cooked” in hot water, it is best practice to rinse the tea leaves first with a little bit of cool water. Use 1 to 1.5 tbsp (4 to 9 grams) for a 20 oz container.

Next, after discarding the rinse water, combine the tea with cold water in a container that seals. It’s most convenient to use tea sachets, or a tumbler with a strainer for loose leaf.

Option A: At Room Temperature

Wait at least 20 minutes, or until the flavor is strong enough. Add ice if desired. Depending on the tea, you may be able to rebrew up to 3 times using this method!

Option B: In the Refrigerator

Place the tea in the fridge overnight, and enjoy it the next day.

More Summer Tea Options

There are as many ways to brew tea as there are tea drinkers! Here are a couple of fun variations of the cold brew method:

Sun Tea

You may remember an elderly relative making sun tea in the garden on a hot day. The process is simple: put your tea (tea sachets are the most convenient) in a jug or jar, preferably glass. Add cool water, and set in a sunny place until the flavor becomes strong enough.

The heat of the sun helps to extract flavor from the tea, and it’s a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon outside.

Ice Cube Sencha

Yes, you can brew tea with ice cubes! A tender, quick-brewing green tea like Fukamushi Sencha or Gyokuro works best.

Cover the bottom of a shallow cup or teapot with tea leaves (a kyusu or even a martini glass will work). Set several ice cubes on top, directly on the leaves.

After some time, between 30 minutes and a few hours depending on the air temperature, the ice will melt and create an extremely smooth, sweet, and rich tea. The low temperature of the melting ice highlights the famous umami or savory flavor that Japanese green tea is known for.

Teaware for Summer

If you’re looking for a high quality, convenient brewer for iced tea or cold brew, check these options out:

Thanks for reading! Remember, tea makes a happy day!