Imagine ancient Chinese tea masters, centuries ago, steeping delicate leaves in cool mountain springs to create a refreshing elixir.

This early form of cold brewing wasn’t just a method of preparing tea; it was a way to extract subtle flavours without the bitterness that hot water can sometimes bring out.

Fast-forward to modern times, where the art of cold brew tea has been rediscovered and refined. Inspired by the simplicity and smoothness of cold brew coffee, tea enthusiasts began experimenting with steeping tea leaves in cold water for extended periods.

Add tea to cold water, stir and refrigerate, result = cold brewed tea

This gentle process allows the leaves to slowly infuse the water with their flavours, resulting in a naturally sweet and smooth brew.

In recent years, cold brew tea has gained popularity in cafés and homes alike. Its mellow taste and lower caffeine content compared to hot-brewed tea make it a favourite among those seeking a refreshing alternative.

Me and My Cold Brew Tea.

I love cold brewed tea, it’s refreshing, healthy and oh-so-easy to drink.

It’s literally what it says on the packet : tea which has been brewed in cold water, rather than hot.

You could brew your tea hot, let it cool and pop it in the fridge to serve as iced-tea, but it takes a good couple of hours and the tea tastes just like… well, cold tea, a bit bitter and not very tasty!

Cold brewed tea, on the other hand, is much lighter in taste and aroma than hot brewed tea. It needs to steep longer, minimum 1 hour as opposed to a few minutes in hot water, however you can leave it for longer and the taste doesn’t change much, none of the over-stewed taste of tea brewed in hot water. So it’s less stressful to actually make.

(Also, 1 hour for cold brew versus 2 hours for iced-tea…no comment.)

What are the advantages of cold brew tea?

Does brewing tea in cold water actually make any difference to its flavor and nutrient content?

Cold brew your tea to preserve its flavours and nutrients

Cold brewing preserves more of the tea’s delicate flavours and nutrients, which can be lost in hot water.

Cold brewed teas and herbal teas taste fantastic, especially in the warmer months, and are so handy to have ready in the fridge.

Cold brewing tea yourself is inexpensive, easy, practical and handy

If you leave the tea brewing in the fridge, it won’t alter much, it’s very easy and practical.

Nothing’s simpler to make at home and the resulting tea tends to have a smoother, less bitter flavour compared to hot brews.

Any sort of tea can be brewed cold : black, green, white, flavoured, red-bush (rooibos) and of course herbal infusions.

An added bonus is that your homemade cold brew tea is healthier, cheaper and eco-friendly compared to the iced-teas you can buy ready-made at the supermarket as they’re full of sugar and the carbon footprint of transporting so much liquid is high.

How do I make my cold brew tea at home?

Choose your tea for the day

Depending on your mood, the weather or what you’ve got planned, choose the tea to fit your day. It could be plain or flavoured, black, green, white, redbush or herbal. Whatever suits you.

Add cold water to your tea and stir

Put your tea into a jar, teapot, cold-brew filter bottle or pitcher and fill it with cold, filtered water. The general rule is about 1 tablespoon of loose tea or 2-3 tea bags for a litre of water. Stir.

Pop the tea mixture into the fridge to steep

Cover and refrigerate for 1-12 hours or basically until you need it. You can make it the night before if you need it first thing in the morning to take with you. Otherwise make it in the morning for lunchtime. The tea will get a little stronger the longer it steeps but nothing like as bitter as it gets when brewed hot.

Strain before use

Remove the tea bags or strain out the loose leaves. Use the leaves again, sometimes they’re washed out but more often than not they’re fine for another brew. Any subsequent brews will take less time. If you use a cold tea filter bottle then pour out a glassful, top up with cold water without changing the leaves and return to fridge.

Serve your tea over ice to taste

If you want your tea extra cold, serve over ice and enjoy! You can sweeten with honey or add a splash of lemon juice and maybe some mint, if you like.

There are other ways to brew iced tea have a look at this article to find out more :