How to Make Iced Tea

by Whittard of Chelsea4 Minute Read

On a scorching summer's day, a chilled glass of iced tea is a crisp, refreshing way to cool down, while still enjoying the flavours of your favourite brew... and it's easier than you think to make at home.

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What is iced tea, and how is it different from cold brew tea?

A classic cup with a cold twist - iced tea is made just like traditional tea, but once brewed it's cooled over ice. Cold brew is a little different, with no heat exporusre and a prolonged steep to extract the flavour of the tea.

Curios to taste the difference? Take a look at our guide on how to cold brew tea.

A tall glass of pink sparkling drink with a large ice ribbon and a rosemary sprig sits on a table, surrounded by blurred dishes and greenery in the background.

How to Make

Iced Tea

Time

20 minutes + refrigeration

Difficulty

Super Easy

Serves

1-2

A glass of red sparkling drink with ice, garnished with a rosemary sprig. The glass has a frosty swirl design and is set on a surface with a blurred green background.

2 teaspoons loose leaf tea
100ml freshly boiled water
Ice

  1. 1.
    Pop two teaspoons of your go-to loose leaf tea (or fruit infusion) into a cold brew bottle, or a regular jug.
  2. 2.
    Pour over 100ml of freshly boiled water, and leave the leaves to brew for around 15 minutes.
  3. 3.
    Add a handful of ice and top up with cold water - ideally filtered, but tap water works too.
  4. 4.
    Put your tea in the fridge for a few hours, but try to drink it within 24, while it's at its best.

A Note From Our Tea Expert

"I'd recommend using loose tea rather than teabags to make iced tea. Cold dampens a tea's natural flavours, so it's important to create a stronger brew than you would with a traditional cuppa. A lot of people counter this by adding sugar, but I think a longer brewing time can be equally effective. Teabags are specifically designed to brew quickly, so extending the time will make them taste bitter, whereas loose tea is designed to brew more slowly and gently, making it the perfect choice for iced tea."

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