Cold brew tea is one of the best ways of enjoying refreshing iced tea without needing to boil water and then waiting for it to cool down. You may be wondering what cold brew tea entails.
Cold brew tea involves the soaking of tea bags or tea leaves left at room temperature or in cold water for several hours. This process helps to gradually infuse the tea’s flavor into the water.
The result is typically a smooth, flavorful, delicious cold tea.
In most cases, cold brew tea is served over ice but it can also be implemented in smoothies, tea lattes, and a whole host of other refreshing beverages.
Thankfully, the process of making cold brew tea is pretty simple and it allows you to enjoy tea in a variety of ways.
Today, we are going to guide you through this process of making your very own cold brew tea so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy this refreshing drink.
What Is Cold Brew Tea?
Cold brew tea is made with the use of tea leaves and/or herbal infusions that are left in cold water instead of the traditional hot water for regular cups of tea.
It can be great fun to make your own iced tea infusions to spice your tea time up a little. Best of all, it’s super easy to do.
It is possible to cold brew different tea blends with sparkling drinks, all kinds of milk, and even alcohol. In fact, you can cold brew tea with just about any drink!
Originating in the southern states of the US, cold brewing became a popular way for people to cool down and enjoy a refreshing beverage in the sweltering heat.
The first people to cold brew would leave tea leaves in a water bottle outside under the sun (see also: How To Make Sun Tea)to allow it to gradually infuse.
In general, cold brewed iced teas taste somewhat sweeter than tea brewed in hot water. Whilst the taste of cold brew tea (see also: How To Safely Make Cold Brew Iced Tea)is not for everyone, it is a great drink to enjoy if you love tea but the weather is a little too hot for a steaming cup of it.
How To Cold Brew Tea (Loose Leaf)
You can easily hydrate yourself on a hot day with a cold brew tea. All you need is a cold brew tea bottle and a delicious tea blend of your choice.
From here, the cold brew world is your oyster and you can experiment with all kinds of recipes!
Here’s a quick, easy to follow guide on how to make cold brew tea so you can give it ago today:
Start by adding four to six teaspoons of loose leaf tea into your cold brew bottle.
Now, fill the bottle with cold water. You can also use other drinks, including soda water, fizzy water, milk, lemonade, or alcohol.
At this stage, you can also add some additional fruits or herbs into the bottle, such as mint. However, this is entirely up to you.
Now, you play the waiting game. Simply leave the tea brew in the bottle for around four to six hours. We recommend preparing it overnight so it is ready the next morning to enjoy.
Once ready, simply pour your cold brew tea into a glass and enjoy your refreshing cold brew tea.
Told you it was easy!
Does Cold Brew Tea Have Any Benefits?
Aside from being incredibly tasty and, depending on your ingredients, very healthy, cold brew teas are perfect(see also: How To Brew The Perfect Cup Of Tea) for the entire family to enjoy, including the kids.
The main benefit is that cold brews help to refresh you quickly and keep you hydrated. This is particularly important when the weather is very hot and humid.
Moreover, cold brew tea tends to use less energy than traditional hot brews and even classic iced teas. This is because you do not need to power the kettle.
All you need is cold water and you’re ready to start brewing. Also, cold brew tea bottles are typically designed with an infuser built-in.
These bottles are made from tempered glass, too, meaning they are reusable unlike single-use plastic bottles that many iced teas come in.
Cold brew tea can also be less acidic than hot tea. This is because cold brewed tea tends to use a slower extraction method, resulting in lower levels of tannins and other acidic compounds.
Therefore, cold brew tea can be gentler on the stomach and easier to digest which is ideal for those with digestion issues.
One key benefit of cold brew tea, though, is how easy it is to make. Whilst it can take hours to brew, it is pretty convenient to have once brewed and ready to enjoy on a hot day.
Top Tips
You may find certain cold brew tea recipes online and think you have to follow that formula for all cold brews in the future. But, this isn’t the case.
Here are some tips to remember when making and enjoying cold brew tea.
You don’t have to include ice. This is because the brew is already chilled. But, by adding ice, the drink will stay colder for longer.
Rather than using a strainer, the simplest and most convenient way to cold brew tea is with a cold brew maker. This allows you to just remove the infuser instead of straining the tea into another cup or container.
Not all cold brew tea is brewed for the same time period. For instance, green tea tends to be more challenging to cold brew and can taste quite bitter. Other teas, such as herbal, Oolong, and black teas are generally the easiest to brew but can take up to 12 hours.
You can store your cold brew tea in the refrigerator for up to four days if needed, but store it in glass containers as plastic can leave odors.
In Summary
Making cold brew tea is pretty straightforward. You just need a little patience. But, the wait is worthwhile because there will be a wonderful refreshment waiting for you at the end.
