Tea Recipes

Quick & Easy Iced Green Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tsp loose leaf green tea (try Nepal Hills Floral Green Tea for naturally floral, no-bitterness iced tea)
• 1 cup water (filtered, heated to 75–85°C)
• Ice cubes
• Optional: lemon slices, mint leaves, honey

Steps

1. Heat water to 75–85°C (167–185°F) — not boiling. Boiling water makes green tea bitter.
2. Add loose leaf green tea leaves
3. Steep for 2–3 minutes, then strain
4. Let cool to room temperature (or refrigerate for 30 minutes)
5. Pour over ice and enjoy

Why Choose Green Tea for Your Cold Beverage?

Iced green tea is a refreshing alternative to sugary cold drinks. It provides antioxidants (particularly EGCG and catechins), L-theanine for calm focus, and a light, crisp flavour that is clean and cooling. Nepal Hills' Floral Green Tea, grown at 5,000–7,000 ft in Ilam, has naturally jasmine-adjacent florals that make it particularly beautiful iced — no added flowers, no bitterness even cold.

Benefits of Loose Leaf Green Tea for Iced Tea

• Loose green tea leaves release fuller flavour and more antioxidants than tea bag dust
• Whole leaves unfurl completely, creating a cleaner, smoother cold brew
• Higher-quality flavour compounds in whole leaf produce better iced tea overall
• Re-steepable — cold-brew the same leaves twice for a second, even smoother batch

Cold-Brew Method (Even Better)

For the smoothest, sweetest iced green tea possible:

1. Place loose green tea leaves directly in cold (room temperature or refrigerator-cold) filtered water
2. Use about 2 tsp per cup of water
3. Refrigerate for 6–8 hours (or overnight)
4. Strain and serve over ice

Cold-brewing extracts sweetness and flavour without extracting tannins — producing a naturally sweet, clear, completely bitter-free iced tea. Nepal Hills' Floral Green Tea and Floral Oolong Tea both cold-brew beautifully.

Enhance Your Iced Green Tea

• Fresh mint leaves — steep a sprig with the tea
• Lemon or lime slices — adds brightness
• Fresh berries — muddle a few in the glass
• A touch of honey — stir into the warm tea before icing

Storing Your Iced Green Tea

Refrigerate in a sealed glass container for up to 4 days. Keep away from strong-smelling foods (garlic, onion) as loose leaf green tea readily absorbs nearby aromas. Label with the brew date.

Other Teas Great for Iced Drinks

• Floral White Tea — delicate floral notes that shine cold
• Floral Oolong Tea — honey blossom character, excellent cold-brewed
• Dark Oolong — stone fruit and roasted honey; brew hot and chill

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iced green tea taste bitter?

Two causes: (1) water too hot when brewing — always use 75–85°C, never boiling, for green tea; (2) steeped too long — 2–3 minutes maximum. Cold-brewing in room-temperature water for 6–8 hours completely eliminates bitterness by extracting sweetness only. High-altitude Nepali green teas like Floral Green Tea are naturally lower in tannins and much more forgiving to brew.

How long does cold-brewed iced green tea last?

Refrigerated in a sealed glass container, cold-brewed green tea stays fresh for 3–4 days. After that, the flavour dulls and the antioxidants begin to degrade. Brew in small batches (1–2 cups) rather than large quantities for best freshness.

Related Reading

• Iced Tea from Loose Leaf: Cold Brew Guide
• Fixing Bitterness in Green Tea: How to Steep It Properly
• Green Tea Benefits: What the Science Actually Says
• White Tea Smoothie: The Honeyed Pink Serenity Recipe
• Are All Green Teas Bitter?