Nothing is quite so soothing as a refreshing glass of cold iced tea on a hot summer day! If you’ve wondered how to make iced tea but never tried your hand at it, we’ve written an ultimate guide to get you started.
Making Delicious Iced Tea: Where It Began
According to research by the Tea Association of the USA, approximately 80% of tea drinkers drink iced tea. But it didn’t start that way.
Most historians agree that the French botanist and explorer Andre Michaux was responsible for bringing tea to South Carolina in the late 18th century.
At the time, people used iced tea in recipes for alcoholic punches. These boozy beverages packed quite a wallop and makers brewed them with green tea, not black.
Iced tea found fame at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. The weather was so hot during the festivities that the crowds turned to cold beverages for relief.
In 1904, 20 million people attended the World’s Fair. Given its widespread popularity, which continues to this day, it’s fair to say a percentage of those people returned to their home cities as iced tea drinkers.
Prohibition was soon to tamp down the frivolity of tea punches, but the newfound delight of iced tea would continue to spread.
Once Prohibition was in full effect, hotels, restaurants, and social clubs scrambled for legal alternatives to their alcoholic beverages. Iced tea was a natural candidate.
As refrigeration became the norm in the 1920s and 30s and the price of tea leaves decreased, people made and enjoyed iced tea at home.
Types of Iced Tea
There are many flavors and garnishes for iced tea, but there are 3 primary brewing techniques.
There is no “wrong” way to prepare iced tea, but each brewing method results in distinct flavor differences.
Here is a detailed comparison of each method.
Cold Brew
For cold brew iced tea, select your tea bag or loose-leaf tea of choice.
Next, fill a pitcher with fresh, cold water.
Filtered or bottled water will give you the purest flavor, but tap water is okay, too.
You should fill your pitcher with 1 quart of water per 1-2 tablespoons of tea. (More tea leaves will give you a stronger flavor, so measure to your preference.)
Cover the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator overnight for 6-12 hours. Serve over ice.
The length of the brew will also affect the flavor. Longer = stronger, so adjust brew time accordingly.
When you make tea with cold water, the extraction of tannins is minimized. This gives cold brew tea a smoother, lighter taste that some prefer.
Cold brews are especially good for fruity or floral teas. The delicacies of the brew tend to highlight these teas' natural sweetness.
Hot Brew
For hot brew iced tea, you will again start with water and your favorite tea.
Boil the water. Let it cool slightly so as not to scorch the tea leaves. The temperature should be about 190-200°F for black tea and 175-185°F for green tea.
Next, steep to your desired strength. Usually, it takes 3-5 minutes for black tea and 2-3 minutes for green tea.
Remove your loose-leaf tea or tea bags. Allow the brew to cool to room temperature.
Add honey, simple syrup, or granulated sugar if desired.
Serve over ice.
The hot brew method is the quickest way to make iced tea. The hot water extracts a stronger flavor and more tannins, giving the tea a more robust and slightly astringent taste.
Sun Tea
You make Sun tea from the sun’s heat instead of boiling water. Its taste is usually smooth and mellow. The gradual heating of the water causes a slower, gentler infusion of the tea as opposed to boiling water.
Place your tea and water in a glass jar. Use the same ratio of tea to water as with a cold brew, about 1 quart of water per 1-2 tablespoons of tea.
Cover your container and place it outside in the sun for 2-4 hours.
Strain your tea and place it in the refrigerator to cool, or serve immediately over ice.
Unlike hot and cold brews, brewing iced tea in the sun does carry some health risks.
The concern is that sun tea sits between 40-140°F for many hours while it’s brewing. This temperature is the “danger zone” for bacteria to grow.
To help avoid this risk, make sure you are using a clean, glass container for brewing and safe, high-quality water.
Because the taste is so similar, some prefer to make cold brew tea instead of sun tea to avoid the risk of bacteria growth.
Ingredients for Iced Tea
In its most basic form, iced tea is simply tea and water. There is a lot of variance in the type of tea and water you can brew, however.
Here are some insights into choosing loose-leaf tea or tea bags as your preferred method.
Loose Leaf Tea
When it comes to choosing your tea, loose-leaf tea has a superior taste and quality. It consists of whole or mostly whole leaves, meaning it retains more natural oils and flavors.
With loose-leaf tea, you can also control how much tea you brew, allowing you to customize your preferred flavor more.
Loose-leaf tea also makes a better infusion, as the leaves have more space to expand, resulting in a better extraction of flavors.
Tea Bags
The most fantastic pro for tea bags is their convenience. You can take them anywhere, find them in most shops, and store them conveniently.
Tea bags also give you greater consistency, as you get the same amount of tea in every bag, so every good tea experience is repeatable every day.
Bagged teas are generally more affordable and accessible to many, but they may include additives and preservatives that you would otherwise avoid.
How to Store Tea
Tea does deteriorate with age, but adequately stored tea leaves will last a long time.
Dry teas don’t spoil in the traditional sense. But the longer a tea sits without use, the less flavor it will have.
You can tell if a tea is past its best-use date if the leaves no longer have an aroma, are pale, and generally feel and smell stale.
Generally, bagged and loose-leaf tea will be freshest within 6-12 months of purchase. The exception to this is some pu-erh, white, and oolong teas that tend to get better with age.
Storing Your Tea
Use Airtight Containers: Airtight containers keep out light and air, which causes oxidation. Oxidation will degrade the flavor of your tea. If your tea bags come in a sealed package or airtight tin, you can keep them there to retain freshness. If not, transfer them to one.
Store in a Dry Place: You do not want excess moisture on your leaves. Leaves that aren’t sufficiently dry when stored can grow bacteria and moisture, in addition to having a poor flavor.
Avoid Strong Odors: Tea absorbs odors from its environment, so store your tea away from strong-smelling foods and spices. (Tea that picked up some notes of onion powder would not be pleasant!)
Do Not Refrigerate: You may think refrigeration would be suitable for tea leaf storage, but there is too much moisture and temperature fluctuation for the leaves to maintain their integrity.
Use Labels: Label and date your teas so you can keep your different varieties organized and track freshness.
How to Make Iced Tea: Best Recipes
If you’re ready to try brewing your own iced tea, try one of these delicious recipes.
Blueberry Lavender Mint Iced Tea
Ingredients:
- Blueberry Lavender Mint Tea Leaves
- Lavender syrup
- Blueberries
- Mint
- Ice
Instructions:
Brew a pot or cup of Blueberry Lavender Mint Cosmic Garden Iced Tea using your preferred brewing method.
Add lavender syrup to taste and pour over ice into glasses.
Garnish with blueberries and fresh mint.
Strawberry Shortcake Iced Tea
Ingredients:
- Strawberry Shortcake Iced Tea with Hibiscus
- Simple syrup (optional)
- Fresh Strawberries (optional)
- Ice
Instructions:
Brew a pot or cup of Strawberry Shortcake Iced Tea with Hibiscus using your preferred brewing method.
If desired, add simple syrup to taste and pour over ice into glasses.
Garnish with fresh strawberries for a more pronounced berry flavor.
Peach Vanilla Black Iced Tea Mocktail
Ingredients:
- Peach Vanilla Black Tea
- Fresh peach slices
- 1 oz. simple syrup
- 1 TBSP cream
- Ice
Instructions:
Brew a pot or cup of Peach Vanilla Black Tea with Figs using your preferred brewing method.
Place a peach slice in the bottom of the glass and muddle.
Place 4 ounces of brewed tea and 1 ounce of simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Add cream. (Any type of cream works, but light coconut cream is a particular favorite of ours.)
Shake the contents in the shaker and pour.
Add garnishes if desired.
Tips, Tricks, and Garnishes to Make the Best Iced Tea
Making a pot of your favorite brew is magical on its own. But you can magnify it to a whole new level with the addition of a few intentional elements.
Here are some tips, tricks, and garnishes for making exceptional iced tea.
Fruits
Fresh fruit in iced tea adds a stunning visual, additional sweetness, and more refreshment to your drink.
You can mix and match fruit to tea depending on your flavor preferences. Here are some great fruits to experiment with.
- Pomegranate
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Pineapple
- Cherries
- Peaches
More delicate fruits like peaches and blueberries pair best with green teas. More robust berries like blackberries and raspberries go best with black.
To infuse your tea with fruit, first clean and slice the fruit. Next, place your tea and fruit in a mason jar and pour over with hot water.
Let steep for about 3 minutes. Remove the tea and let the fruit steep in the water for an additional 10 minutes.
Lastly, pour the infused tea through a strainer to remove the steeped fruit.
Pour over ice and add fresh fruit as a garnish.
Herbs
Herbs add a fullness and subtlety that amplifies the taste of teas. The enticing scent of fresh herbs brings the senses together as you take your first delicious sip.
Herbs infuse nicely with fruit, so don’t feel like you have to choose one over the other.
Some herbs you can infuse with your tea include:
- Lemon Balm
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Basil
- Sage
- Mint
The infusion process is the same as with fruit. Add to your hot water and let steep for 5-10 minutes (depending on strength preference). Strain and pour over ice.
Mixers
While tea is the star of the show, some supporting players take your glass of tea from good to extraordinary.
Try some of these mixers:
Milk - Adding a splash of almond, soy, oat, or regular milk transforms your iced tea into an iced tea latte.
Juice - If you want to enhance your fruit infusion or use a less labor-intensive method to get fruit flavor in your tea, add fruit juice to your brew.
Lemonade - Who doesn’t love an Arnold Palmer? Simply add ¼ cup lemonade to ½ cup iced tea and enjoy!
Sparkling Water - Add some fun with bubbles and sparkle with a splash of mineral or tonic water.
Special Additions
Some more fun additions you can add include:
- Lavender Syrup
- Coconut Water
- Simple Syrup
- Agave Nectar
- Maple Syrup
- Rose Syrup
- Honey
- Rum
- Gin
Tips and Techniques
Here are a few pro tips for your next brew:
Make Tea Iced Cubes: Ice is an essential part of iced tea, but melted ice often dilutes the taste of your tea over time. If you make iced cubes from brewed tea, you get the benefit of the cold without losing any flavor.
Mix Tea Blends: Why try just one? Many teas work brilliantly together, so don’t be afraid to mix and match whatever sounds good to you.
Sweeten Warm Tea: If you drink your iced tea with sweetener, add it while the tea is still warm. Trying to sweeten cold iced tea is frustrating, as the sweetener has trouble dissolving at a cold temperature.
Use Filtered Water: The water you use in your brew will have a significant impact on the taste of your tea. Tap water will contain more minerals and be slightly alkaline. This isn’t a problem per se, but it will affect the taste of your tea. Use filtered water for the purest taste.
Tools of the Trade
Using the right tools as you prepare your favorite tea makes a huge difference in your experience of the ritual.
Here are some of the best.
Tea Pots
As a tea enthusiast, you no doubt have a collection of beautiful teapots. For cold brewing iced tea, cold brew beakers and carafes make the steeping process a breeze.
The Magic Hour Shop offers several beautiful cold brew carafes, including the gorgeous glass carafe with a built-in infuser basket pictured below.
Tea Strainers and Bags
Any tea vessel is not much good without the tools necessary for brewing!
Your tea strainers can be as simple or decadent as you’d like.
Here at Magic Hour, we love adding beauty to simplicity and are proud to offer gorgeous accessories that do not trade elegance for functionality. Shop for your favorite tea infuser or strainer.
Sun Tea Jugs
As we discussed above, a good container for sun brewing is not only a beautiful addition to your tea accessories; it’s essential to ensure your brewing vessel is free of harmful bacteria.
You can brew Sun tea in nearly any clean glass container, but it can be fun to shop for unique shapes. Artisan platforms like Etsy or local thrift shops are good places to look for sun tea jugs that fit your aesthetic.
Tea Storage
Traditional packaging, such as bags, pouches, or apothecary jars, is usually adequate for tea storage. However, storing your tea is also an opportunity to showcase your personality.
Shop for jars, vintage tins, or specially designed apothecary vessels to store your tea in style.
Other Accessories
Don’t stop at the basics — elevate your tea experience with other alluring accessories.
Choose elegant, tiny teaspoons, seasonal tea towels, glasses and chinaware, tea journals, and books about your favorite varieties.
Tea is so much more than a beverage. It’s a deeply healing, ritualistic extension of self-care. So don’t be afraid to build the tea experience that promotes your healthiest life.
Make Your Own Magic Cup
Brewing iced tea is simple. You can experiment as much as you like with mixers, garnishes, and fancy additions.
Make sure you are using high-quality water and tea for the best results.
Shop for your favorite iced tea in our shop and enjoy!
