Any tea can make a delicious iced tea in just 5 minutes. When making iced tea, the objective is to first make a double strength concentrate, then dilute it with cold water. Also try a cold brew process, leaving leaves in cold water and placed in your refrigerator overnight. Iced tea concentrate can be stored in your refrigerator for 48 hours.
Ingredients & Tools
To make a ½ gallon (64 oz or 2 qts) double concentrate, you'll need:- ½ cup of loose leaf for dense teas (i.e. black, green, oolong)
OR 1½ cups for fluffier, less dense teas (i.e. white and some herbals) - 64-oz vessel for brewed tea (like our Takeya Iced Tea Pitcher)
- Tea infuser or a large iced tea brewing bag
- 32 oz of hot water
- 32 oz of cold water
- Ice cubes
- Timer (optional)
For a single 16-oz serving, you'll need:
- 2 tsp of loose leaf tea (see package label for recommended serving size).
- Tea infuser - basket or paper
- 16-oz glass/cup or other drinking vessel
- A brewing vessel similar in size to your drinking vessel
- Ice cubes
- Timer (optional)
Instructions
For ½ gallon (64 oz or 2 qts) double concentrate:- Heat water to suggested temperature for the type of tea you are brewing (see chart below or package labels).
- Scoop dry tea leaf into infuser and place infuser in brewing vessel (pot, pitcher, or mug).
- Fill the vessel just halfway with hot water, ensuring the tea leaves are fully submerged within the infuser.
- Steep for desired time for desired strength of concentrate. More time = stronger brew.
- Remove tea infuser.
- Fill the remainder of the vessel with cold water.
- Pour over ice and enjoy!
For a single serving:
- Scoop dry tea leaf into infuser and place infuser into brewing vessel.
- Fill the brewing vessel just halfway with hot water.
- Allow to steep for 4-5 minutes, then remove tea infuser.
- Fill your 16-oz glass or cup with ice.
- Pour the brew over ice and enjoy!
Tips
- Do not over-steep.
- Remove the tea infuser when tea is finished brewing.
- Use proper amount of leaf in proportion to hot water during brewing.
Temperature & Time
| TEA | TEMP (°F) | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Black | 190° - 200° | 3 - 5 min |
| Green | 160° - 190° | 3 - 4 min |
| Oolong | 190° - 200° | 2 - 4 min |
| Puerh (Raw) | 185° - 200° | 3 - 5 min |
| Puerh (Ripe) | 200° - 212° | 3 - 5 min |
| White | 190° - 200° | 4 - 6 min |
| Herbal | 200° - 212° | 3 - 5 min |
Making Simple Iced Tea
Our Favorite Teas Iced
These are a few of our favorite teas whose flavors are especially enhanced when served chilled.
- Ceylon (Black)
- Mango Ceylon (Black)
- Nilgiri Blue Mountain (Black)
- Yuzu Black (Black)
- Blackberry Fig (Black)
- Ginger Peach (Black)
- Jasmine Harmony (Green)
- Mild Moroccan Mint (Green)
- Tropical Green * (Green)
- Bird Song (Oolong)
- Berry White (White)
- Haiku Peach (White)
- Orange Fennel (White)
- Ruby Nectar (Herbal)
- Clementine Sunset * (Herbal)
- Lemon Hibiscus (Herbal)
*Spring/Summer Seasonal Tea (available April to September while supplies last).
**Fall/Winter Seasonal Tea (available October to March while supplies last).
