• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Clean & Delicious logo

  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Recipes
  • Video
  • Food For Thought
    • Intuitive Eating
    • Mental Health
    • Nutrition
    • Weight Loss
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
    • Work With Me

Home » Recipes » Lunch » Drinks » How-To Make Cold Brew Iced Tea

Jun 28, 2019(updated June 23, 2022)

How-To Make Cold Brew Iced Tea

4.48 from 36 votes
By Dani Spies
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links.
cold brew iced-tea

Cold-brew iced tea is easy to make, super refreshing and has a clean, smooth finish that you just can’t get with traditional tea. Plus, you can make it ahead and keep it in your fridge for days.

There is nothing more refreshing than a glass of homemade iced tea on a hot summer day.  It’s light, clean, and refreshing and could not be any easier to make.

Why Cold Brewing Makes The Best Iced Tea

Heat brings out the tannic, bitter flavors in tea (and in coffee!).  Without the heat, you end up with a very smooth, light, and refreshing tea with a flavor that just can’t be beaten.

This is why I always cold brew my iced tea and recommend you do the same.  Other than it being the best-tasting tea, it’s also the easiest to make.

Let me show you how.

cold brew iced tea

How To Make Cold Brew Iced Tea

This method for making iced tea is as easy as it gets!  I like to use one tea bag for every 8 ounces of water.  If you like a super-strong brew, reduce the water to 6 ounces per teabag.

  • Place 8 tea bags in the bottom of a glass container or pitcher.  I like using this container because it has a lid.  But I also own a glass pitcher (similar to this one), which I use when serving friends and family.
  • Pour 8 cups of cold or room temperature water over the tea bags and give it a gentle stir.
  • Pop the lid on the container and place it in the refrigerator for a minimum of eight hours (maximum 12 hours).
  • Remove the tea bags and enjoy your tea.
  • Serve over ice with fresh lemon. Enjoy!
cold brew iced tea

What Tea Should I Use For Making Iced Tea

For traditional iced tea, you want to use black tea.  You can choose any brand that you like, but remember, the better the quality of the tea you use, the better the flavor will be for your iced tea.

I love using earl grey tea.  Earl Grey is a black tea that is infused with bergamot oil which has a light, citrus flavor that makes for a delicious iced tea.

Also, keep in mind that you can use this method to make any type of iced tea you enjoy.  Some of my favorites are green tea, lemon verbena tea, chamomile tea, peach tea, and/or mint.

cold brew iced tea

How To Sweeten Iced Tea Without Sugar

I like to drink my iced tea slightly sweetened but I don’t like using white refined sugar to sweeten my tea.

Liquid Stevia

My personal favorite way to sweeten cold-brewed iced tea is with liquid stevia.  Stevia is a sugar-free, plant-based substitute for traditional sugars that has no calories and will not affect blood sugar levels (this is the one I’ve been using).

It’s perfect for iced tea because it’s already in liquid form, so it stirs right into the tea. I find using somewhere between 6-8 drops makes for a perfectly sweetened glass of iced tea.

Honey

Another option for sweetening your iced tea without using refined sugar is to use honey.  I find you can sweeten an entire batch of iced tea with just 3-4 tablespoons of honey (depending on your taste preferences of course!).

Just be sure that you add some warm water to the honey before stirring it into your iced tea.  this way the honey will dissolve and easily stir into your iced tea without turning into honey clumps.

Print Recipe
4.48 from 36 votes

How-To Make Cold Brew Iced Tea

Light, refreshing cold brew iced tea is easy to make and perfect for a hot summer day. Try adding in some of your favorite fruits for even more fresh flavor.
Course: drinks, KITCHEN BASICS, LUNCH
Cuisine: American, dairy free
Author: Dani Spies
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time6 mins
Total Time11 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories:

Ingredients

  • 1 tea bag per 6 to 8 ounces of water less water makes a stronger brew
  • Optional add-ins: sliced lemon liquid stevia or honey, fresh mint leaves
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Place tea bags in the bottom of a large container or glass pitcher. Pour in room temperature or cold water.
  • Cover the container/pitcher and refrigerate. Steep for 8-12 hours.
  • Remove the tea bags and discard.
  • Serve tea over ice with fresh lemon slices and sweetener of your choice.

Notes

Tea will keep well, covered and refrigerated, for up to 5 days.

Dairy Free, Drinks, How-To, Recipes, Video

About Dani Spies

Dani Spies is the founder and host of Clean & Delicious; a weekly cooking show on YouTube and a healthy eating blog that celebrates real, whole foods! She takes a holistic approach to health and wellness and is loved for her approachable, down to earth style both in and out of the kitchen.

Learn MoreWork With Me

Reader Interactions

Yum! I love this recipe.

    Leave a review Cancel reply

    If you loved this recipe please leave a comment and star rating below. Questions are also welcome. Cheers!

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

  1. Ida says

    June 29, 2019 at 6:54 am

    5 stars
    Hello. Love your recipes and ideas. Can I use loose bulk tea and get the same flavor?
    Thank you for all your recipes.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      July 6, 2019 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      I am sure you could. I don’t know the measurement for loose tea but my idea would be to use cheesecloth to make a large sachet that would be easy to remove after steeping.

      Reply
    • Nikki says

      April 20, 2021 at 9:15 am

      5 stars
      I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I love the idea for how to sweeten cold brewed tea with honey! I am actually chiming in to say that I use a French Press for all of my cold brew needs (coffee and tea alike). It works great because you can just put the amount of loose tea you want in there, fill it up, put the top on without pressing it down, and leave it overnight. Then you just press it down in the morning and viola! Fresh, beautiful cold brew for the next day. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Dorothy says

    July 4, 2019 at 11:19 am

    5 stars
    This recipe is super refreshing and didn’t last a day. After the tea bags steeped I zested and juiced 3 lemons and added about 5 tablespoons of honey. I stirred it the best that I could but eventually the zest and honey settled at the bottom. I’m on my second batch and can’t wait to drink this all summer long!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      July 10, 2019 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      So glad you enjoyed it Dorothy! It’s a great recipe to help keep you cool in the summer.

      Reply
  3. Clarissa Hoagland says

    November 19, 2021 at 8:58 pm

    I would like to make a gallon of this ice tea. Can I put 16 tea bags and let it steep for 8 hours? Or do I have to double the time of steeping like steep it for 16 hours instead of eight?
    Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      December 12, 2021 at 6:50 am

      No need to double the steeping time 🙂

      Reply
  4. Karin Wessbecker says

    June 2, 2022 at 9:59 am

    Making for a wedding ahead of time. Can I steep very strong in like mason jars and then mix with more water before serving. That way I am not taking up the whole fridge with all the jugs.

    Reply
    • Dani Spies says

      June 2, 2022 at 11:50 am

      Yes! This would definitely work.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Dani.

I’m a Health, Wellness & Weight Loss Coach, Mom of two, and the Founder of Clean & Delicious®. I’ll show you how to make healthy eating CRAZY-easy and insanely DELICIOUS!

Learn more

Stay Connected

Never Miss a Recipe

Sign up for free recipes straight to your inbox.

Reader Faves

shrimp and green beans on small plate with fork

Roasted Shrimp and Green Beans

meatloaf muffins on plate

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Brussels Sprouts + Grapes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes | Healthy Holiday Side Dish

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats - Clean & Delicious®

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Roasted Rosemary Chicken

Baked Chicken And Potatoes

apple-protein-muffins

Apple Protein Muffins

Seasonal Picks

spinach frittata in cast iron pan

Spinach Frittata

warm blueberry crisp with vanilla ice-cream

Blueberry Crisp Recipe

open-faced fish taco on white plate

Easy Fish Tacos

healthy foods

10 Healthy Fridge Staples

blueberry oatmeal muffin cup

Baked Blueberry Lemon Oatmeal Muffin Cups

steamed beets in a white bowl

Simply Steamed Beets

My Ebooks

photo of salad and ice cream ebook

Search

As Featured On

Footer

Never miss a recipe!

Subscribe to get new recipes + tips via email plus my BONUS smoothie making guide!

  • Recipes
  • Food For Thought
  • Shop
  • About
  • Work With Me

© 2023 Clean & Delicious. Privacy Policy

Jump on the Interest List for My New Course:

The Don’t Diet