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Cold Brew Tea
Smooth. Refreshing. Effortless.
Cold brewing tea is one of the easiest ways to enjoy loose leaf tea—whether you're sipping at home, filling your favorite tumbler, or making a big pitcher of iced tea for the fridge. The cold brew method uses cold water or room temperature water to slowly steep tea leaves, bringing out a naturally sweeter, smoother flavor without the bitter taste you sometimes get from hot brewed tea.
It’s a delicious way to explore different flavors of green tea, oolong tea, white tea, black tea, herbal blends, or rooibos—without the heat.
Why Make Cold Brew Iced Tea?
- Yields a smooth, refreshing drink
- No risk of bitter or astringent flavors
- Easy to customize your personal taste—brew it stronger or lighter, sweeten it, or add a splash of lemon juice, honey, or fresh mint leaves
- Perfect for hot summer days, but honestly, we drink it year-round!
How to Cold Brew Tea (Mason Jar Method)
Making cold brew tea is as easy as it gets:
- Add 1 teaspoon per 8 oz of water of loose leaf tea (or use your favorite tea bags) to a 32 oz wide-mouth mason jar. (If using herbal tea, read the note about herbal teas below.)
- Fill with fresh cold water.
- Screw on the Craft Cold Brew Filter — our award-winning stainless steel filter lid designed for wide-mouth mason jars.
- Place the jar in the refrigerator and steep for at least 2 hours (or overnight for a stronger batch).
- Pour straight from the jar—the built-in filter keeps tea leaves out of your cup!
➡️ Pro tip: Toss in some ice cubes, slices of fruits, or a splash of lemonade for extra flavor.
No Craft Cold Brew Filter? No problem! You can also use our Tuffy Steeper or Tea Filter Basket to strain your loose tea leaves after steeping.
Cold Brew Tea On-the-Go
Want to take your cold brew iced tea with you? Our tea tumblers come with built-in infusers, so you can cold brew while you’re out and about. Here’s how:
- Add 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea (or one tea bag) per 8 oz of water to the infuser in your tumbler.
- Fill the tumbler with cold water.
- Let it steep while you’re on the go—about 10 minutes for lighter teas like green or white, longer for bold teas like black or herbal blends.
- Sip and enjoy anywhere, anytime.
A Quick Note on Cold Brewing Herbal Teas
When it comes to herbal teas, we recommend a slightly different approach for cold brewing. Since these ingredients aren’t heat-processed like traditional tea leaves, they haven’t gone through the same bacteria-killing step. To enjoy them safely and get the best flavor, we suggest this method:
- Add your tea to your filter or jar using 1 teaspoon of tea per 8 oz of water.
- Pour 1 to 2 cups of boiling water over the tea and let it steep for about 5 minutes.
- Then top it off with cold water and ice to fill your pitcher or bottle.
- Let it chill in the fridge, and you’re good to go! 😍
This hybrid method gives you the vibrant flavor you’re after, with the safety and satisfaction of a proper brew. ❤️
Cold Brew Tea Recipes to Try
Citrus Green Tea Cooler
- 4 teaspoons Organic Sencha
- 32 oz cold water
- Slices of lemon, orange, and lime
- Optional: fresh mint leaves
Steep tea in cold water for 4–6 hours in the fridge. Strain. Add citrus slices and mint before serving over ice.
Bolder Breakfast Vanilla Cream
- 4 teaspoons Bolder Breakfast
- 32 oz cold water
- 1–2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Optional: splash of milk or oat milk
Steep for 6–8 hours in the fridge. Strain. Stir in vanilla, add milk if desired, and serve over ice.
Hibiscus Lemonade
- 4 teaspoons hibiscus herbal tea
- 32 oz cold water
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1–2 teaspoons honey or agave (optional)
Steep for 8 hours or overnight. Strain. Stir in lemon juice and sweetener, then serve chilled.
Cinnamon Spice Peach Tea
- 4 teaspoons Cinnamon Spice
- 32 oz cold water
- Sliced fresh or frozen peaches
Steep for 6–8 hours in the fridge. Strain. Add peaches before serving over ice.
Teas You’ll Want to Cold Brew on Repeat
You can cold brew just about any tea. Green tea, black tea, oolong, white tea, rooibos, and herbal blends all work beautifully with the cold brew method. Some teas, like green or white, really shine when brewed cold because the slower steep brings out sweetness without bitterness.
If you’re not sure where to start, we love Bolder Breakfast, Organic Sencha, and Turmeric Tonic for cold brewing.
Pretty much, yes! Some teas may need longer steeping times than others, but almost any loose leaf tea or tea bag can be cold brewed. The best way to find your favorites is to experiment — lighter teas tend to taste crisp and refreshing, while bold teas like black and pu’erh offer rich, full flavors even when brewed cold.
Quick note about herbal teas: Since herbal blends aren’t heat-processed like traditional tea leaves, we recommend a hybrid method for safety. Start by pouring 1 to 2 cups of boiling water over your herbal tea and let it steep for 5 minutes, then top it off with cold water and ice to fill your pitcher or jar. Chill in the fridge and enjoy smooth, vibrant flavor with peace of mind.
Cold water pulls out fewer tannins than hot water, which means your tea ends up smoother, sweeter, and less bitter. The slow extraction highlights natural sweetness and softens the edges of stronger teas. It’s also a great way to enjoy the more delicate flavors in green and white teas without overpowering them.
Once brewed, cold brew tea will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days if you strain out the tea leaves after steeping. Keep it covered and give it a little stir before serving.
Not quite. Iced tea is typically brewed hot and then chilled or poured over ice. Cold brew tea is steeped slowly in cold water from the start, which brings out a different balance of flavors. It’s smoother, naturally sweeter, and avoids the bitterness that can happen when hot tea cools down.
If you’re using tea bags (we call them tea sachets!) instead of loose leaf, steep them in cold water for at least 2 hours in the fridge. Up to 8 hours works well for a stronger brew. One tea bag per 8 to 12 ounces of water is a good place to start.
Nope, the cold brew method is all about steeping tea slowly in cold water or room temperature water. Using hot water changes the extraction process and gives you hot-brewed iced tea instead. If you’re going for that smooth, no-bitter cold brew flavor, stick to cold water and a little patience.
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