How to Make Iced Tea? The 3 Best Methods

You don't need to buy bottled iced tea from Nestea or any other brand to enjoy this refreshing beverage when the warm weather arrives. Making iced tea at home is as simple as blending your favorite tea leaves with hot or cold water. Plus, the possibilities are endless, as you can add other ingredients like fresh fruit or herbs to suit your palate. In this handy guide, you'll learn how to make iced tea with loose tea leaves instead of tea bags, using three simple methods.

Methods for preparing iced tea

Standard Iced Tea

Iced tea is a popular summer beverage that can be prepared using hundreds of different flavors. The most popular iced tea is usually made with black tea bags or black tea leaves and a sweetener to enhance the flavor. Black tea is preferred because it has a high content of tannins, which produce a strong, robust flavor with more body.

For best results, it's best to use high-quality ingredients . Loose tea tastes better and provides greater health benefits than tea bags, as loose tea contains the whole leaf. We also recommend using filtered water for the best flavor.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 tablespoons of Ceylon black tea or oolong tea
• 6 cups of water or 1.5 liters
• Sweetener of your choice

Instructions:

1. Bring the water to a boil
2. Add the tea leaves. For black teas and oolong teas, you can let the leaves steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Remove the tea leaves and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
4. Serve directly in ice-filled glasses or store in the refrigerator for later use.

Cold brew or cold infusion

The cold brew method involves preparing tea using cold water instead of hot water . Since cold water doesn't extract flavors as quickly as hot water, the tea leaves are left in the water for several hours.

To prepare cold brew tea, you need to use a larger amount of tea to develop the same flavors as when preparing it with hot or boiling water. As a general rule, use two teaspoons of tea leaves per cup of water , which is twice as much as if you were preparing tea the regular way.

If you want to use a sweetener, use liquid sugar , such as syrup. Solid sugars, such as honey and brown sugar, don't dissolve well in cold water, so they should be avoided.

Ingredients:

• 5-6 tablespoons of Ceylon black tea or oolong tea
• 6 cups of water or 1.5 liters
• Sweetener of your choice
• Glass jug
• Fine mesh strainer

Instructions:

1. Fill a large glass pitcher with cold water and add the loose tea leaves.
2. Cover the pitcher and let the tea steep overnight or at least 8 to 10 hours.
3. Taste the tea to make sure it's right for you. If the tea tastes too weak, let it steep longer.
4. Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove the tea leaves. Refrigerate for later use or serve in large glasses filled with ice cubes.

Sun tea

Sun tea is a tea brewing method that harnesses the sun's energy to make a flavorful iced tea. Tea leaves are steeped in water and exposed to direct sunlight for several hours while they infuse flavor and aroma.

Some critics believe that sun-brewed tea is dangerous because the warm temperatures can encourage bacterial growth . This tea-brewing method can be safe if proper precautions are taken. Always use a glass pitcher. Cover the tea to prevent bacteria and other contaminants from entering the container during the brewing process. Make small batches and store sun-brewed tea for only 1 or 2 days.

Ingredients:

• 5-6 tablespoons of Ceylon black tea or oolong tea
• 6 cups of water or 1.5 liters
• Glass jug
• Lid to keep the jar closed

Instructions:

1. Fill a clean glass container with room temperature water and add the tea leaves.
2. Place the container in direct sunlight for 4 to 6 hours and cover it with a lid. You may need to move the jar to keep it in direct sunlight, depending on where you live.
3. Taste the tea to determine the desired flavor. If the flavor is too weak, let the tea continue to steep.
4. Once the tea is ready, serve it in tall glasses with ice cubes or store it in the refrigerator for a day or two.

Use your imagination to prepare delicious iced teas

Making iced tea is a great way to experiment with flavors and stay hydrated during the hottest days. Although traditional iced tea blends are made with black tea leaves, you can experiment with other types of tea such as green or white tea, or herbal infusions with fruity flavors. You can even use flavored and spiced black teas. Try Earl Grey black tea for a hint of citrus flavor, or opt for chai black tea for a more exotic and spicy flavor.

You can also add other ingredients to make your own recipe and enjoy iced tea even more. Add fresh mint leaves or sweeten it with fresh fruit pieces instead of other unhealthy sweeteners like sugar.

Whatever your taste, these iced tea recipes and preparation methods are the perfect way to cool off this summer with a tasty beverage . Start making delicious iced teas, and we guarantee you'll never want to drink anything else.