How to Make Iced Tea from Loose Leaf Tea: Cold Brew Guide & Best Teas to Use
Iced tea from loose leaf is easier to make than most people expect, and it tastes far better than anything from a bottle or a powdered mix. What matters is the tea you pick and how you brew it. This guide covers both methods, hot brew then chill and cold brew, and which Nepal Hills teas suit each.
Two methods: hot brew vs. cold brew
There are two reliable ways to make iced tea from loose leaf, and each has its strengths.
Method 1: Hot brew, then chill
Brew the tea at double strength (twice the leaf for the same amount of water), steep for the usual time, then pour it over ice or put it in the fridge. As the ice melts, it dilutes the tea back to normal strength.
This works well for black teas and oolong, or whenever you want iced tea ready in 15 minutes.
Steps:
- Use 3 teaspoons of loose leaf per 250ml of water, double the usual amount.
- Brew at the usual temperature and time for that tea (see the table below).
- Take the leaves out straight away. If you leave them in while it cools, the tea will over-extract.
- Pour it straight over a full glass of ice, or let it cool to room temperature and then refrigerate.
- Taste it, and add a little cold water if it's too strong.
Method 2: Cold brew (our recommendation)
Cold brewing steeps the leaves in cold water in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours. The tea comes out smoother, naturally sweeter, and lower in caffeine than hot-brewed iced tea.
This suits white teas, green teas, and lighter oolongs, or any tea where you want the delicate floral and fruity notes to come through with no risk of bitterness.
Steps:
- Use 3 to 4g of loose leaf per 500ml of cold filtered water.
- Put the tea in a pitcher, jar, or French press and fill it with cold water.
- Refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours. Overnight is ideal.
- Strain and serve over ice.
- It keeps in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Cold water extracts more slowly and more selectively. It draws out the sweet, floral compounds and leaves behind the tannins that make tea bitter, so the result is noticeably gentler and more complex than hot-brewed iced tea.
Which Nepal Hills tea makes the best iced tea?
Some teas suit iced serving better than others. Here's what works best from our range.
Dark Oolong, our top pick for iced tea
Our Dark Oolong ($10/25g) is made for cold brewing. At 50% oxidation it sits between green and black tea, with notes of stone fruit (peach and plum), roasted honey, and bright acidity. All of that comes through clearly in a cold brew, giving you an iced tea that's complex and refreshing without being sweet or bitter. Use 4g per 500ml and cold brew it overnight. It also makes a very good hot-brewed concentrate to pour over ice.
Floral Oolong, lighter and more floral
Our Floral Oolong ($10/25g) cold brews into a delicate iced tea that tastes of honey blossom and orchid. It has less body than the Dark Oolong, but the floral character is lovely over ice, and it's a good one for people who find black tea too heavy in summer.
Muscatel Black Tea, for a classic strong iced tea
If you want a bold iced tea with character, choose our Muscatel Black Tea ($10/25g). Its honey-grape and dried apricot notes hold up well when chilled. Brew it at double strength with the hot method and pour it over ice; it doesn't turn bitter even at that concentration. Add a slice of lemon if you like, since the acidity goes well with the muscatel grape notes.
Floral White Tea, the most delicate
Our Floral White Tea ($10/25g) makes a remarkable cold brew, with spring blossom and soft rose coming through very clearly. It's very light, almost like floral spring water, and it's the lowest-caffeine choice for iced tea. Use 4g per 500ml and cold brew for 10 to 12 hours. Serve it without ice so the flavour stays as clear as possible.
Fresh White Tea, cucumber and wildflower
Our Fresh White Tea ($10/25g) cold brews with crisp cucumber and wildflower notes. It's one of the more surprising iced teas: light, clean, and very refreshing on a hot day. Cold brew it in the fridge for 10 to 12 hours.
Brewing temperature and time
| Tea | Hot Brew for Iced | Cold Brew | Flavour When Iced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Oolong | 90°C, 3 to 4 min, 2× leaf | 8 to 10 hrs, 4g/500ml | Peach, plum, roasted honey |
| Floral Oolong | 85°C, 3 min, 2× leaf | 8 to 10 hrs, 3g/500ml | Honey blossom, orchid |
| Muscatel Black | 90 to 95°C, 3 min, 2× leaf | 10 to 12 hrs, 4g/500ml | Honey-grape, dried apricot |
| Floral White | 75°C, 2 min, 2× leaf | 10 to 12 hrs, 4g/500ml | Spring blossom, soft rose |
| Fresh White | 75°C, 2 min, 2× leaf | 10 to 12 hrs, 4g/500ml | Wildflower, cucumber |
Tips for better iced tea
- Use filtered water. It matters more in cold brew, because there's no hot extraction to cover mineral off-flavours, and good water gives a noticeably cleaner cup.
- Taste before you sweeten. High-altitude Nepali teas are naturally sweet from slow growth at 5,000 to 7,000 ft, and cold brewing brings out that sweetness even more, so you often won't need sugar.
- A French press makes straining easy. Add the leaves and cold water, refrigerate, and press when it's done. You don't need anything else.
- Don't over-steep. Past 12 to 14 hours even cold brew can turn slightly bitter, so stay within 8 to 12 hours.
- Serve it in a clear glass to show off the colour. Muscatel turns a warm amber, the white teas are almost clear with a golden tint, and the Dark Oolong is a rich reddish amber.
Can you cold brew any loose leaf tea?
Technically yes, though results vary. Black teas work with both methods, but the hot-brew concentrate gives iced tea more body. Green teas cold brew very well, because without heat there's almost no risk of bitterness. White teas may be the most impressive of all in cold brew, since cold water shows off their delicate floral notes best.
Avoid cold brewing very fine or broken-leaf teas, which over-extract even in cold water. Whole-leaf or large-cut loose leaf teas like ours are ideal.
Try Nepal Hills Tea for iced tea
The Tea Sampler Kit ($30) includes both oolongs and both white teas in 5g portions, enough to cold brew each one before you buy a full size.
- Nepal Hills Tea Sampler Kit: 10 teas, 5g each, CAD $30
- Dark Oolong: peach, plum, roasted honey, CAD $10/25g | $45/180g
- Floral Oolong: honey blossom, orchid, CAD $10/25g | $45/180g
- Floral White Tea: spring blossom, soft rose, CAD $10/25g | $45/180g
Free shipping on qualifying orders. 30-day returns on unopened tea (you cover return shipping). Ships across Canada, the USA, and select regions around the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make iced tea with loose leaf tea?
Yes, and it makes much better iced tea than tea bags, because the flavour is more complex and you can control the extraction closely. Two methods work well: brew it hot at double strength and pour it over ice (ready in 15 minutes), or cold brew it in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours, which is smoother, naturally sweeter, and lower in caffeine. We recommend cold brew for green and white teas, while the hot method works well for black tea and dark oolong.
How do you cold brew loose leaf tea?
Use 3 to 4g of loose leaf tea per 500ml of cold filtered water. Put the tea in a pitcher, jar, or French press, fill it with cold water, and refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours. Strain and serve over ice. Cold brew is smoother and sweeter than hot brewing because cold water draws out the floral and fruity compounds without the tannins that cause bitterness. It keeps in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.
Which tea is best for cold brew iced tea?
Dark oolong is the best all-round choice, because its stone fruit and roasted honey notes come through very well in cold water. Floral white teas are excellent if you want something more delicate and floral. Muscatel black tea makes a bold, honey-grape iced tea when you brew it hot at double strength. All our teas are grown at 5,000 to 7,000 ft in Ilam and Taplejung, and their natural sweetness means cold brew tastes great without sugar.
How long should I cold brew tea?
8 to 12 hours in the fridge is the usual range, and overnight is easy and reliable. Past 12 to 14 hours even cold brew can over-extract a little, and under 6 hours it tends to be weak. Check it at 8 hours and adjust your next batch to taste.
Do I need to add sugar to iced tea?
With high-altitude Nepali teas, often not. Tea grown at 5,000 to 7,000 ft develops natural sweetness from growing slowly in cool mountain air, and cold brewing brings that out by avoiding the tannins that make tea taste bitter or dry. Taste it before you add anything. Many people find our iced teas don't need it.
Is cold brew iced tea lower in caffeine?
Yes. Cold water extracts caffeine more slowly and less completely than hot water, so cold brew usually has 30 to 50% less caffeine than the same tea brewed hot. White tea cold brew is especially low, because white tea is usually already low in caffeine and cold extraction lowers it further. That makes it a good afternoon or evening choice.
Related Reading
- How to Brew Loose Leaf Tea: The Complete Guide
- Best Tea for Sleep: Low-Caffeine Options That Actually Work
- Oolong Tea Benefits: What the Science Actually Says
- White Tea Benefits: Why the Least Processed Tea May Be the Healthiest
- Does Tea Have Caffeine? A Complete Guide by Tea Type
- Loose Leaf Tea vs Tea Bags: Is There a Real Difference?
