How to Make Cold Brew Tea
Cold brew tea steeps in cold or room-temperature water for several hours instead of a few minutes in hot water, which pulls out flavor and caffeine slowly and leaves behind most of the tannins that make hot-brewed tea taste bitter or astringent when it cools. The tradeoff is time, not effort: the only real variables are how much tea you use and how long you let it sit.
Steps
- 1Measure loose leaf tea or tea bags into a pitcher or large jar. Use about 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea (or 2 tea bags) per 8 ounces of water for a standard-strength brew.
- 2Pour cold, filtered water over the tea. Tap water works, but chlorine flavors come through more in a long steep than in a quick hot brew.
- 3Stir gently to make sure all the leaves are submerged, especially with loose leaf tea that tends to float.
- 4Cover the pitcher and refrigerate for 6-12 hours, depending on the tea type. Black and herbal teas can go the full 12 hours; green and white teas turn bitter past 8-10 hours.
- 5Strain out the leaves or remove the tea bags once the steep time is up. Don't leave them in longer than intended, even in the fridge, since flavor keeps developing.
- 6Serve over ice as is, or dilute slightly with more cold water if the brew tastes stronger than expected.
Common mistakes
- Using hot or warm water: this defeats the purpose and extracts the same bitter compounds a cold steep is meant to avoid.
- Steeping green tea too long: green tea turns bitter and grassy past about 8 hours, unlike black tea which stays smooth even at 12 hours.
- Leaving the leaves in after straining time is up: cold brew still keeps extracting flavor in the fridge, just slowly, so a forgotten pitcher can turn bitter by the next day.
- Under-measuring the tea: cold water extracts less efficiently than hot water, so recipes built for hot steeping (using less tea) come out weak when used cold.
Equipment
- Large pitcher or jar with a lid
- Fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag (for loose leaf)
- Measuring spoons
FAQ
How long does cold brew tea need to steep?
Most teas need 6-12 hours in the fridge. Black and herbal teas tolerate the full range, while green and white teas are best pulled at 8 hours before they turn bitter.
Does cold brew tea have less caffeine than hot-brewed tea?
It depends on the ratio and steep time, but cold brewing generally extracts caffeine less efficiently than hot water, so a standard cold brew often ends up slightly lower in caffeine than a hot-steeped cup of the same tea.
Can I cold brew tea at room temperature instead of in the fridge?
Yes, and it extracts faster, usually finishing in 2-4 hours, but it also grows bacteria faster, so it should be strained and refrigerated promptly rather than left out overnight.
How long does cold brew tea keep in the fridge?
Once strained, it keeps well for 3-4 days in a sealed pitcher. Flavor is best within the first 2 days before it starts to flatten out.
Can I reuse the tea leaves for a second batch?
Loose leaf tea can usually be re-steeped once for a second, lighter batch, but tea bags are generally spent after one long cold steep.
Need exact temperatures or timing? Check our Time & Temperature Guide →