Tea Info › How to Cold Brew Tea
Cold Brewing Tea
What Is Cold-Brewed Tea?
Cold-brewed tea is tea steeped in cold water for a long time. The leaves brew slowly, using time rather than heat to release their flavor. Many tea lovers find cold-brewed tea especially smooth, mellow and naturally sweet, with less bitterness than tea brewed hot.
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How to Cold Brew Tea
- Use cold water or iced water to brew your tea. (Iced water takes longer.)
- Use about 1 part tea to 50 parts water by weight. Adjust the ratio to your taste.
- Put the loose tea into a pitcher or jar filled with cold or room-temperature water.
- Put the container in the refrigerator. Do not put it in the freezer.
- Open, strip-style leaves, such as green tea, black tea or flat, wavy oolongs like Pouchong, need at least 4 hours. We recommend 4–12 hours.
- Tightly rolled leaves, such as Jade Oolong and Iron Goddess (Ti Kuan Yin), need at least 6 hours. We recommend 6–12 hours.
- Strain the tea leaves and enjoy your refreshing cold-brewed tea. If you have some left over, strain out the leaves and put the tea back in the refrigerator.
Start with the ratio
About 1 part tea to 50 parts water by weight is a good start. Use a little more tea for a bolder glass.
Taste as you go
Cold brew is forgiving, but taste it now and then. Strain it when it tastes right to you.
Keep it cold
Always brew and keep cold brew in the refrigerator, and strain out the leaves before storing any leftovers.
