Brewing The Perfect Iced Tea For Summertime Sipping
Quick Answer
Most folks are accustomed to making iced tea using premeasured tea bags, but this method can often leave your cup lacking. Using loose leaf tea to make iced tea can yield a wonderfully tasty cup, highlighting the best flavors those leaves were meant to offer (1). Here we’re exploring the ins and outs of making iced tea, looking at everything from loose leaf measurements/amounts needed, brewing temperatures and methods, sweet additions, and more - everything you need to brew the perfect iced tea!
- How To Brew The Perfect Iced Tea
- Using loose leaf to make iced tea
- Brewing methods, temps, and time
- Some like it sweet
- Banishing bitterness
- Sippin’ Lifeboost In The Summer - A look at the best Lifeboost loose leaf teas for your favorite summertime sips
Iced tea is a summertime staple.
There’s nothing like sipping a chilled glass poolside, enjoying a refreshing cup on a lawnmowing break, or simply chilling on the back porch with a glass in hand, watching the hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies enjoy your vibrantly hued flowerbed.
But, as you’ve transitioned from brewing hot cups, perfect for cozying up in the winter months, to making chilled iced tea, you have likely found that your brewing methods need some tweaking, leaving you wondering:
- How can I use loose leaf tea to make iced tea?
- How much tea do I need to use to make a large batch of iced tea instead of a single, hot cup?
- Should I brew my tea hot, then chill it, or can tea be cold brewed?
- What’s sun tea?
- How do I keep my iced tea from getting bitter?
- How can I get sugar to dissolve in iced tea for a sweetened version? And, what other sweetener options work with iced tea?
Who knew iced tea could spark so many questions, right?
Thankfully, we’re here to answer each of these tea-inspired kitchen queries and more today on our mission to brew the perfect iced tea!
How To Brew The Perfect Iced Tea
Don’t let this topic intimidate you, brewing iced tea using loose leaf tea is easier than you might think.
However, since there are multiple things to consider, breaking things down in list form will give us all a better understanding of these basics.
1- Using Loose Leaf To Make Iced Tea
Pre-packaged or bagged tea, especially when making iced tea - which commonly means brewing larger batches at a time - is a common way of brewing this summertime classic.
However, many have found using loose leaf options to make iced tea actually yields a more rewarding glass, better showcasing the flavors and complexities of the tea without fading in cold water, over ice, and with time (1, 2).
“Iced tea needs bold character…[loose] leaf teas retain complex flavors that stay punchy and layered, even when cold” (2).
Of course, when using loose leaves instead of bagged tea, you’ll be measuring those leaves on your own, so here’s a few tips to consider.
When using loose leaf tea to make iced tea, most recommend using 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea per 8 ounces of water. For instance, if you’re making one quart of iced tea, this would require 4 teaspoons of tea and 32 ounces of water (3).
For a stronger or more bold tasting tea, most advise against increasing the time or temperature incorporated in brewing, instead, plan to use 1 ½ to 2 times more tea than listed above (8). Just remember to follow the brewing instructions to avoid a bitter brew.
2- Brewing Methods, Temps, & Time
Now that you’ve got the appropriate measurements (tea and water), let’s take a look at several brewing methods which incorporate varying uses of time and temperature to brew a tasty glass of iced tea.
When brewing a hot cup of tea, you’re likely accustomed to the time and temperature guidelines for various teas such as black, green, and herbal.
But, when making iced tea, these specifics actually vary depending on the brewing method used.
Typically, when making iced tea, folks opt for one of roughly four methods - cold brewing, sun tea, flash brewing, or the hot brew plus ice shock method (4, 6).
Cold Brewing
This is one of my favorite ways to make iced tea, second only to sun tea, which we’ll discuss in a moment.
Cold brewing tea is a quick and simple method which some claim yields the smoothest tasting tea. This method is also preferred for making iced herbal teas or those with fruity notes (7).
- To cold brew tea (5), you simply add 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea per 8 ounces of cold, filtered water to a glass jar. (2 teaspoons would yield a stronger tea)
- Seal the jar and place it in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.
- After the recommended time has elapsed, strain the tea leaves, transferring the tea to a new jar/container.
*Personal tip: I like to use a 2-quart mason jar to make both cold brew coffee and cold brew tea.
You can purchase a fine mesh metal strainer/infuser that fits perfectly on/in a wide mouth mason jar to hold ground coffee or loose-leaf tea for this purpose.
I simply add a desired amount of coffee, or here, loose leaf tea, to the mesh strainer/infuser, insert it into the jar, then fill the jar with cold, filtered water.
Cover the jar with a lid (yes, the lid still fits even with the infuser/strainer in place), then place it in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours as listed above.
Once the time has elapsed, cleaning up is super easy as you simply remove the infuser/strainer from the jar and discard the used tea leaves.
Cover and store in the refrigerator.
Sun Tea
Sun tea is a nostalgic iced tea brewing method for many.
It’s definitely my favorite way to make iced tea, and like cold brewing, it’s super simple.
To make sun tea (6), simply:
Add roughly 1 ½ tablespoons of loose leaf tea per quart of water to a stainless steel infuser or reusable tea bag. (roughly 3 tablespoons for 2 quarts)
Place the infuser/bag into an appropriately sized glass jar.
Fill the jar with filtered water, cold or room temperature. (Personally, I prefer room temperature filtered water, as this ensures the water and tea don’t go through any “extra” shifts in temperature.)
Seal the jar, then place it directly in the sunlight, allowing it to steep for 2-4 hours.
Once brewed, strain out the tea leaves, or remove the infuser.
Store, covered, in the refrigerator for 3-5 days (up to 3 is best for freshness).
Flash Chill Brewing
Flash brewing tea is often a preferred method when preparing iced tea for a crowd as it can prepare a pitcher of tea rather quickly, compared to cold brewing and sun tea methods (4).
To flash chill a pitcher of iced tea (4), simply:
- Add 1 tablespoon of loose-leaf tea to 2 cups of hot water (see recommendations based on tea type below). It’s best to use a large glass jar (4 cups) for steeping since you’ll be adding more water.
- Steep for 5 minutes, then strain.
- Add two cups of cold, filtered water to the freshly steeped, hot tea.
- Use immediately, pouring over ice to serve, or refrigerate for 10-15 minutes prior to serving for a more noticeable chill.
*Water temperature recommendations for brewing hot tea (9):
Black tea - full boil (212 degrees Fahrenheit)
Green tea- steaming briskly (175-180 degrees Fahrenheit)
Herbal teas- full boil (212 degrees Fahrenheit)
Hot Brew + Ice Shock
This method is similar to how you’d brew a hot cup of tea, you’ll just be adjusting the intensity, then pouring the strong brew directly over ice to dilute and chill the tea (4).
For a single cup, most consider this to be the fastest way to enjoy a cup of iced tea (4).
To prepare using this method:
- Add 2 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea to a tea infuser in a large mug or glass jar, then cover with 8 ounces of hot water (see guidelines above for hot water temperatures for specific tea varieties). You’ll be using more loose-leaf tea here as the steeped tea will be diluted in a moment.
- Steep for 3-5 minutes depending on the type of tea. (see recommendations below)
- Remove the strainer/infuser and pour the tea directly over ice in a glass cup. You’ll want to fill the glass completely full of ice to allow the temperature of the tea to fully chill.
*Steeping time recommendations for tea (9):
Black tea: 3-5 minutes
Green tea: 1-2 minutes
Herbal tea: 5-10 minutes
3- Some Like It Sweet
Now that we’ve got our tea brewing techniques down, what should you do if you prefer your tea to be sweetened?
If you’re planning to use sugar or honey to sweeten your tea, plan to add this while the tea is hot.
This works for any brewing method listed above except for cold brewing.
- For sun tea, since the water has been warmed in the sun as the tea steeps, the liquid should be just warm enough to dissolve any sugar or honey you add (4).
- For both flash chill brewing and the hot brew + ice shock method, you’ll simply add a desired amount of sugar or honey to the freshly brewed (hot) tea prior to adding water or ice (4).
If you want to add a touch (or more for our southern sweet tea loving fans) of sweetness for cold brewed tea, consider making a simple syrup or flavored syrup that you can incorporate at any time during the brewing or sipping process.
I like to make a simple syrup to use freely with any prepared tea, something to keep on hand to have in a pinch.
But, homemade flavored syrups are also a great way to enhance your tea sipping experience.
For instance, this homemade lavender simple syrup (10) is incredible in our Empire State Sunrise black tea.
This loose-leaf tea has a touch of bergamot oil, giving it that earl grey flavor that’s unmistakably fantastic, but the addition of lavender with a touch of sweetness really sets it apart. So good!
Lavender Simple Syrup
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons dried culinary lavender buds
Combine water, sugar, and lavender in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer until sugar is fully dissolved, stirring frequently.
Once the sugar is dissolved, cover and remove from the heat, allowing the mixture to steep for 20 minutes.
Strain the lavender, then pour the syrup into a clean glass jar.
Allow the syrup to cool completely before sealing and storing in the refrigerator (for up to 2 weeks) until ready to use.
Of course, if you’re looking for added flavor without the added sugar, you can also enhance your iced tea experience with the following additions:
- Fresh mint leaves
- Lemon/citrus slices
- Fresh or frozen berries
Each of these can be added to your glass as-is, or you can give them a rub, squeeze, or smash to release more of their inherent flavor into your brew (2, 4).
4- Banishing Bitterness
Iced tea is supposed to be chilly. It’s supposed to be refreshing. And, when prepared properly, it’ll also be smooth, not bitter.
Unfortunately, bitter tea can be common. So, let’s look at a few ways to fix this potential problem:
- To avoid bitter iced tea, make sure you don’t use too much loose-leaf tea. Using too much tea can easily yield a bitter brew (8).
- When using brewing methods which call for the use of hot water, make sure your water temperature follows the recommended guidelines. Water that’s too hot can make the tea taste astringent, overly bitter, and can make your mouth feel dry (1).
- Tea can also become bitter when steeped for too long, so no matter which method of brewing you use, be careful not to over-steep the tea (1).
Most recommend cold brewing for the smoothest, most natural, non-bitter iced tea (7).
Sippin’ Lifeboost In The Summer
Did you know that Lifeboost carries a fabulous line of teas?
That’s right, we’re not just a coffee company.
So, let’s close out this tea discussion by taking a look at those selections we think will truly tantalize your iced tea craving taste buds!
Empire State Sunrise
This is our organic Sri Lankan loose leaf black tea, enhanced with a light touch of bergamot oil.
The addition of bergamot allows you to easily recognize the beloved earl grey flavor enjoyed by many tea enthusiasts; however, that element (in my opinion) is light, not at all overpowering as I’ve experienced in some earl grey offerings.
For this reason, I’ve found that I not only love this one prepared hot but have actually preferred it iced.
I mentioned above that my ultimate iced tea preparation preference is sun tea, and this selection is incredible when prepared in this manner.
Personally, I love it unsweetened. But, it’s also fantastic with a lavender simple syrup or a plain simple syrup.
And, if you’re really looking to highlight the natural citrus notes of the bergamot, a light addition of honey accomplishes this well.
I’m a long-time tea lover, and this selection is by far the smoothest black tea I’ve ever had, but if you want to amplify this, I’d recommend cold brewing to bring this one to even greater heights.
Crimson Hibiscus Infusion Tea
Our Crimson Hibiscus Infusion Tea is a vibrant fruit and floral blend, made with organic Egyptian hibiscus and orange peels, organic Chilean rosehips, organic South African rooibos, and an incredibly delicious and refreshing blend of organic fruits, including mango, blueberry, and passionfruit.
As you can imagine, this floral and fruity blend, combined with caffeine-free, low-tannin rooibos tea, yields a perfectly suited summertime tea when served iced.
Our coffee-loving CEO has confessed that this one was his go-to afternoon pick me up in the cold winter months, but what I love is how versatile it is, as when it’s served over ice it transforms into the summer treat perfect for most any palate.
Champagne Bliss
An organic white tea combined with elegant, organic rose petals, rose hips, blackberry leaves, and apple pieces…as you can imagine, this is the summer pick for the perfect iced tea.
Fruity and refreshing with a touch of floral notes, light, and seemingly sweet (a natural bonus), it’s hard to imagine anything better on a hot summer’s day.
I’d highly recommend cold brewing this one.
And, the sweetener? A light-colored honey or even a small amount of agave nectar are great options for this one.
And, since there’s technically no champagne in this elegant cup, I enjoy lightly sweetening it with clover honey (again, a light hued one), then adding a few frozen blackberries and a bit of plain sparkling water for those champagne-esque bubbles.
This…over ice…ahhh…chef’s kiss!
FAQ
1- Why does my iced tea get cloudy when I refrigerate it?
There are a few things that can cause your tea to turn cloudy once refrigerated. Here are some reasons for this and how to remedy them:
Minerals in drinking water can cause cloudy tea, so be sure to use filtered water when brewing (7).
Over-steeping can also cause tea to become cloudy (7). Consider using the cold brewing method, discussed above, or remove loose leaf tea in a timely manner to avoid this (4).
Rapid cooling is another cause of cloudy tea, so if you’re preparing sun tea, which yields a warm brew, or brewing hot then diluting, take extra care to avoid cooling your tea too quickly (7).
2- How long does iced tea last in the refrigerator?
Once you’ve brewed the perfect pitcher of iced tea, be sure to consume it within 3-5 days (3 is best) for optimal freshness and flavor (7).
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Champagne Bliss Tea.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program. Additionally, the way coffee is grown, low acid coffee, decaf coffee, as well as different roast types (light, medium, dark, etc.) can alter caffeine levels. If you have questions about the caffeine levels or pH levels of our coffee, please reach out to our team for clarification. If you have any concerns with how our coffee, or any product will affect you or your health, consult with a health professional directly.
Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.
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