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.
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!
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.
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.
How-To Make Cold Brew Iced Tea
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
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.
Comments
Ida says
Hello. Love your recipes and ideas. Can I use loose bulk tea and get the same flavor?
Thank you for all your recipes.
Michelle says
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.
Nikki says
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. 🙂
Dorothy says
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!
Dani says
So glad you enjoyed it Dorothy! It’s a great recipe to help keep you cool in the summer.
Clarissa Hoagland says
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!
Dani says
No need to double the steeping time 🙂
Karin Wessbecker says
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.
Dani Spies says
Yes! This would definitely work.
Angie says
Thank you Dani! This is exactly what I was looking for. Can’t wait to try when my tea is done steeping.
Kim says
Great recipe
Dani Spies says
Thanks, Kim!
Virginnia Winstead says
Im from the south and dont understand how tea can steep and brew with cold water and placed in fridge 8–12 hours. My very British grandmother would turn in her grave to hear this lol. I was raised by her to use boiling water and loose leaf tea. Over my 80 years i did compromise to use tea bags however and have my delicious southern sweet iced tea down to a science. Please explain how cold water brews TEA in a COLD fridge. I really want to understand the science behind it please.
Dani Spies says
Great question! Cold water can brew tea in the fridge through a process called cold brewing, which uses time instead of heat to extract flavor from the tea leaves.
Here’s how it works: Unlike hot water, which quickly pulls flavor compounds from tea, cold water extracts them slowly over several hours. You simply place tea leaves or tea bags in cold or room-temperature water and let it steep in the fridge for 6 to 12 hours, depending on the type of tea you’re using.
Many of the flavor components in tea—like caffeine, tannins, and polyphenols—are still water-soluble at lower temperatures. They just take longer to infuse. That slow extraction results in a brew that is often smoother and less bitter than hot-brewed tea.
The fridge helps keep the tea fresh while it brews and chills it at the same time, so it’s ready to drink when the steeping time is up.
Cold brewing is an easy and hands-off way to enjoy tea, and it often brings out naturally sweet and clean flavors you might not notice in a hot brew. Let me know if you want a guide on steeping times for different types of tea.
Diane Graszik says
I have been making cold brew tea for years and leave tea bags in for 24 hours. Is this harmful?
Dani Spies says
Great question—I’m a big fan of cold brew tea too. Leaving your tea bags in for 24 hours isn’t harmful, but it might not be necessary. Most teas (especially herbal or green teas) extract fully in about 6–12 hours in the fridge, and leaving them in too long can sometimes make the flavor a bit bitter or overly strong, depending on the type of tea you’re using. That said, if you like the way it tastes and it works for you, you’re probably just fine! Just be sure to keep it refrigerated the whole time to avoid any bacterial growth—and always trust your senses. If it smells or tastes off, it’s time to make a fresh batch.