How To Make Cold Brew Tea: A Complete Guide
Summer is almost here, the skies are turning blue and the sun is coming out, but that doesn’t mean that your tea-sipping should stop.
Did you know that you don’t need to heat water to make tea?
Cold brewing is a method of steeping tea and it’s great to help with the summer heat.
It involves placing tea leaves in cold water and letting them slowly infuse overnight in the fridge.
In this article, we’ve covered the exact steps you need to take to properly cold brew tea.
What is Cold Brew Tea
Cold brew tea is a method of brewing tea by steeping tea leaves in cold water over 6-12 hours in the refrigerator.
This process allows the flavors and nutrients of the tea to infuse into the water, which results in a smoother and less bitter taste compared to traditional hot brewing methods.
Why Cold Brewed Tea Is Better Than Hot Brewed Tea
Cold-brewed tea has a sweeter taste than hot-brewed tea, and is also gentler on the stomach due to reduced acidity.
Additionally, cold brewing preserves more antioxidants and vitamin C, and can last up to a couple of days if kept refrigerated.
Best Tea Types for Cold Brewing
Certain varieties of tea are better for cold brewing than others. The best types of tea to cold brew are white tea, green tea, oolong tea, and herbal tea.
Their delicate flavors are better preserved in cold water, and they give a refreshing and a subtly sweet taste.
Lemon green tea or jasmine oolong work exceptionally well for cold brewing.
How to Cold Brew Tea
Here’s how to properly cold brew your tea:
What You Need To Cold Brew Tea
To start cold brewing tea, you'll need the following items:
- Loose-leaf tea or tea bags of your choice
- Filtered water
- A pitcher or glass container
- Optional: Sweeteners like sugar or honey
- Strainer or fine mesh sieve
How To Make Cold Brew Tea
Here’s how to make cold-brew tea:
- Combine your loose-leaf tea or tea bags with cold filtered water in a pitcher or glass container.
- Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator for steeping. Allow it to infuse for about 6 to 12 hours.
- After steeping, strain the tea to remove the tea leaves or bags.
- Serve your cold brew tea over ice, and add sweeteners if you need more taste to it.
- Keep refrigerated to preserve tea
Tips To Get A Better Flavor
To get a better flavor when cold brewing tea:
- Try using different types of teas
- Use high-quality loose-leaf teas
- Experiment with the steeping timing
- Try adding some citrus juice
Adding Fruits and Herbs
Fruits and herbs can significantly improve the taste of your tea:
- Citrus fruits like lemon or orange slices can add acidity to your brew.
- Fresh berries such as strawberries or raspberries give a subtle sweetness.
- Herbs like mint, basil, or rosemary bring herbal notes and aromas to your tea.
How Long Does Cold Brew Take?
After you place your cold brew in the refrigerator, you should wait about 6-12 hours for it to completely steep.
Unlike hot tea brewing which happens almost instantly, cold brew tea needs time to gently extract the flavors without any bitterness.
If you want to check if your cold brew is ready for drinking, you can give it a simple taste test and determine the strength of the taste you want to achieve.
It’s best to figure out a time that you prefer for cold brewing, and match it with your sleep schedule, so you can wake up to some cold brew tea!
Benefits of Cold Brew Tea
There are plenty of benefits of cold brew tea, and here’s why people love it so much:
It's Easy To Make
Making cold brew tea is a simple and easy process that requires minimal effort, but plenty of patience.
You can create a flavorful brew without the need for hot water, but it will take a bit longer than hot brew tea!
It's Sweet Without Sugar
Cold brew tea has a natural sweetness that develops during the brewing process.
Hot-brewed tea can sometimes turn bitter if it’s steeped for too long. Cold brew tea doesn’t have this problem, as it tends to be smoother and sweeter without adding any sugar, honey, or other sweeteners.
It’s a great option for people who want to avoid sugar and sweeteners and enjoy a naturally tasty beverage.
It's Hydrating
The long and gentle brewing process retains the tea’s hydrating properties, which makes it both a hydrating and a refreshing drink.
It’s best enjoyed chilled on a warm day, when you need to stay hydrated.
It Has Less Caffeine
Caffeine’s solubility increases with temperature, meaning the higher the temperature of the water, the more caffeine is likely to be extracted from the tea leaves.
Cold brewing doesn’t use high temperatures, so you avoid plenty of caffeine by using that method.
While it still contains caffeine, it has much less caffeine than hot-brewed tea.
