The Best Teas for Iced Tea (and How to Brew Each One)
Teatentional
Americans drink most of their tea cold. According to the Tea Association of the USA, about 75 to 85 percent of the tea consumed in the country is iced. But not every tea is equally good over ice. Chilling dulls delicate flavors and can make some teas taste flat or bitter. The best iced teas have bold, bright or fruity flavors that hold up when cold.
Here are our picks, with how to brew each one.
How to Make Iced Tea With Loose Leaf
There are two easy methods. Use whichever fits your schedule.
- Hot brew, then ice: brew double strength (about 2 teaspoons per 8 oz of water) using the normal temperature and time for that tea. Pour it over a full glass of ice. The ice dilutes it to the right strength. Ready in minutes.
- Cold brew: add about 1 tablespoon of tea per 16 oz of cold water, refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours, then strain. Cold brewing pulls out less bitterness, so it is smooth and naturally sweet. For full instructions, see How to Make Cold Brew Tea.
Sweetening? Stir sugar or honey in while the tea is hot, or use simple syrup for cold tea. For the Southern classic, see How to Make Sweet Tea With Loose Leaf.
1. Classic Black Tea
Organic English Breakfast Tea
The standard American iced tea is black tea, and for good reason: its bold, malty flavor stays strong over ice. Our organic English Breakfast makes a classic pitcher. Serve with lemon, or sweeten for sweet tea.
Brew: hot brew at 212°F for 4 minutes at double strength, or cold brew overnight.
2. Bright Citrus Black Tea
Citrus Blend Tea
Black tea with bergamot, tangerine, orange, lemongrass and hibiscus. The citrus wakes up when chilled, so it tastes like iced tea with lemon already built in. One of our best iced teas.
Brew: hot brew at 212°F for 3 to 4 minutes at double strength and pour over ice.
3. Mint Green Tea
Moroccan Mint
Gunpowder green tea with peppermint and spearmint. Cold, it is cool and refreshing, especially lightly sweetened with a few fresh mint leaves. Try it half and half with lemonade.
Brew: hot brew at 175°F for 2 to 3 minutes at double strength. Do not use boiling water, which makes green tea bitter.
4. Fruity Herbal (Caffeine Free)
Tropical Harvest Tea
A caffeine-free fruit blend that makes a colorful, naturally sweet iced tea. Great for kids, late afternoons and anyone skipping caffeine.
Brew: steep in boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes at double strength, or cold brew overnight.
5. Green Rooibos (Caffeine Free)
Tropical Sunshine Green Rooibos
Green rooibos with sea buckthorn, pineapple, guava and marigold. Rooibos is low in tannins, so it almost never turns bitter, which makes it one of the easiest teas to cold brew. Learn more about it in Where Does Rooibos Come From?
Brew: steep in boiling water for 5 to 7 minutes, or cold brew 8 to 12 hours.
6. Creamy Rooibos (Caffeine Free)
Coconut Cream Lavender Rooibos
Rooibos with coconut, cream caramel and lavender. Iced with a splash of oat milk, it tastes like a dessert drink.
Brew: steep at about 205°F for 5 to 7 minutes at double strength, pour over ice and add milk if you like.
Teas That Are Trickier Iced
Very delicate teas, like light Japanese green teas or high-grown floral teas, can lose their subtle flavors when chilled, and green teas turn bitter fast if brewed too hot. If you want to ice them, cold brew is the gentlest method.
Iced Tea Season in Portland
Portland's summers are dry, sunny and warm, the opposite of the rainy months. Keep a pitcher of cold brew in the fridge and you are set for backyard dinners, park days and long evenings. For iced tea on the go, our 16 oz glass travel infuser mug holds hot or cold drinks and has a built-in infuser.
Steep intentionally. Sip with intention.
Related Reading
Read How to Make Sweet Tea, Who Invented Iced Tea?, How to Make Cold Brew Tea and The History of Tea.
