Summer Iced Tea Guide: 5 Ways to Cold Brew at Home

Summer Iced Tea Guide: 5 Ways to Cold Brew at Home

Summer Calls for Something Cool in Your Cup

When the heat rolls in, hot tea takes a back seat — but that doesn't mean you have to give up the ritual. Cold brewing is one of the easiest, most rewarding things you can do with a quality loose leaf tea. No special equipment required. Just time, water, and a tea worth waiting for.

Here are five ways to cold brew at home this summer, from the simplest method to the most elevated.

Method 1: The Classic Cold Steep (No Heat, No Fuss)

Best for: Hibiscus Berry Tea, Peach Paradise Tea

This is the gold standard of cold brewing — and the easiest place to start.

  1. Add 1–2 tablespoons of loose leaf tea per 8 oz of cold, filtered water.
  2. Place in a pitcher or mason jar.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for 8–12 hours (overnight works perfectly).
  4. Strain, pour over ice, and enjoy.

Why it works: Cold water extracts the tea slowly, pulling out the sweet, fruity, and floral notes while leaving behind the bitterness that hot brewing can sometimes introduce. The result is naturally smooth and refreshing.

Our Hibiscus Berry Tea and Peach Paradise Tea were practically made for this method — bright, bold, and beautiful in a glass.

Method 2: The Sun Tea Method

Best for: Moroccan Mint, Jasmine Green Tea

A summer classic. Let the sun do the work.

  1. Fill a large glass jar with cold water.
  2. Add your loose leaf tea (about 1 tablespoon per 8 oz).
  3. Seal the jar and set it in direct sunlight for 2–4 hours.
  4. Strain and refrigerate immediately.

Pro tip: Don't leave it out longer than 4 hours — you want flavor, not fermentation. Refrigerate right away and drink within 24 hours.

Moroccan Mint takes on a beautifully clean, cooling character in the sun. Jasmine Green Tea becomes delicate and floral — perfect for sipping on the porch.

Method 3: The Flash Brew (Hot Concentrate Over Ice)

Best for: Any tea — great for when you want iced tea fast

No time to wait overnight? This method delivers cold brew-style results in minutes.

  1. Brew a double-strength hot tea (2x your normal amount of tea, half the water).
  2. Steep for the recommended time, then strain immediately.
  3. Pour directly over a full glass of ice.
  4. The ice chills and dilutes the concentrate to perfect strength.

Why it works: The rapid chill locks in the flavor and stops the steeping process instantly, so you don't get that over-brewed bitterness. It's the barista method — and it works beautifully at home.

Method 4: The Pitcher Infuser Method

Best for: Loose leaf teas of any kind — especially blends

If you have a pitcher with a built-in infuser basket (like the Wilmax Thermo Glass Teapot included in our Cold Brew Tea Bundle), this is your go-to setup.

  1. Load your loose leaf tea into the infuser basket.
  2. Fill the pitcher with cold, filtered water.
  3. Refrigerate for 8–12 hours.
  4. Remove the infuser and serve over ice.

The advantage here is zero mess — no straining, no cheesecloth, no fuss. Just pull the basket, and your tea is ready to pour.

Our Cold Brew Tea Bundle includes everything you need to get started: Hibiscus Berry, Peach Paradise, and Jasmine Green Tea paired with a beautiful glass teapot designed for exactly this.

Method 5: The Fruit-Infused Cold Brew

Best for: Hibiscus Berry Tea, Peach Paradise Tea

This is where cold brew becomes a full sensory experience.

  1. Cold steep your tea using Method 1.
  2. Once brewed, add fresh fruit — sliced peaches, strawberries, lemon, or cucumber.
  3. Let the fruit infuse in the fridge for another 1–2 hours.
  4. Serve over ice with a sprig of fresh mint.

This is the kind of drink that makes people ask for the recipe. It's stunning in a clear glass, naturally sweetened by the fruit, and completely free of artificial flavoring — just like every tea we carry.

The Cold Brew Tea Bundle: Your Summer Starter Kit

If you're ready to make cold brew a summer ritual, our Cold Brew Tea Bundle is the easiest way to start. It includes three of our most popular teas for cold brewing — Hibiscus Berry, Peach Paradise, and Jasmine Green — along with a Wilmax Thermo Glass Teapot with a flip-lid infuser, purpose-built for cold steeping.

Everything you need. Nothing you don't.

Stay cool out there. ☕🧊

— Eva & the Central Plains Tea & Coffee Co family

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