Cold brew tea: the easiest way to make loose leaf tea this summer
When the weather gets warmer, many people start swapping hot drinks for something colder. You might be someone who drinks tea no matter what the thermometer says. But for more seasonal tea drinkers, the ritual can start to feel less appealing in summer.
Cold brew tea gives you the best of both worlds. You still get flavour, calm and a proper brewing routine, just in a cooler, brighter form.
Cold brew tea at a glance
Use 2–3 teaspoons of loose leaf tea per 500ml cold water. Brew in the fridge for 4–6 hours, or overnight for a stronger flavour. Strain, pour over ice and enjoy.
What is cold brew tea?
Cold brew tea isn’t just iced tea. It’s made by steeping loose leaf tea in cold water over several hours, usually in a fridge. It’s the easiest way to make loose tea feel refreshing, low-effort and perfectly suited to warm weather.
One important thing to note is that cold brew tea will taste slightly different to the same tea brewed with hot water. It usually has a smoother taste, and it’s usually less bitter – especially when using green tea.
Let’s say you have friends coming round for a barbecue, or just want something cool on hand that isn’t packed with as much sugar as a fizzy drink. Cold brew tea can be prepared easily in advance and can sit in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy it. No last-minute rush to make a fancy cocktail. Here’s one you made earlier – and it tastes great.
Bright, fruity green teas and fruit-led herbal infusions work particularly well as cold brews.
Why cold brew works so well with green tea
One common mistake with green tea is to brew it too hot or for too long, which makes it bitter. You can read more in our guide to common loose leaf tea mistakes.
Cold brewing is more forgiving because the cooler water extracts flavour more slowly. That makes it a great option for people who think they don’t like green tea because they’ve only had harsh, over-brewed cups before.
Sunny Green is Stead’s green tea with pineapple and makes a beautiful cold brew. It already has a light, bright flavour, with pineapple bringing a naturally tropical lift. Cold brewing softens the green tea base and lets that fruitiness come through even more clearly. Sunny Green is one of our bestsellers year-round, but it really comes into its own as a cold brew.
If that’s you, take this as your invitation to try tea in a new way.
How to make cold brew green tea with Sunny Green
You’ll need:
- Loose leaf Sunny Green tea
- Cold water
- A bottle, jar or jug
- An infuser, strainer or filter
- A fridge
Simple method:
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of Sunny Green to around 500ml cold water
- Leave it in the fridge for 4-6 hours, or overnight
- Strain, sweeten to taste (honey is our favourite), pour over ice and enjoy
- Adjust next time depending on how strong you like it
We recommend:
For a simple and elegant way to prepare cold brew tea, we love the Hario Cold Brew Tea Filter Bottle.
How to serve it
Cold brew tea is as versatile as it is delicious. Here are some of the ways you can enjoy it.
- Drink it straight over ice
- Add a slice of lemon or lime
- Serve it in a wine glass as a non-alcoholic evening drink
- Brew the tea stronger, then add sparkling water for a lighter, spritz-style version
- Make it in a bottle in the evening so it’s ready the next day
Can you make cold brew tea with tea bags?
Yes, you can use tea bags for cold brew. But just as is the case with hot tea, it elevates the experience when you use loose leaf tea.
Loose leaf tea gives the leaves and ingredients more room to infuse, which matters when you’re relying on a slower cold brew process. It also looks more appealing in a glass jar or bottle, which is useful for social contexts.
Sunny Green is the easiest Stead tea to try this with because it’s naturally bright, fruity and refreshing.
Go green for hotter days
Cold brew tea is one of the simplest ways to make tea fit the season, with less heat, less fuss, and more refreshment. With Sunny Green, you get a brighter way to enjoy green tea when the weather warms up.
Want to get started with cold brew tea? Try it with Sunny Green, our green tea with pineapple.