One of the best ways to enjoy a glass of iced tea in the warmer season is cold brew. This method is easy, consistent and delicious. As long as you plan ahead and give different tea type adequate amount of time to brew. Cold brew is truly the easiest way to enjoy a nice summer quencher.
Cold brew coffee/tea originated from Japan. It’s known as mitsudashi. It’s said that Dutch traders learned of this method from the Japanese back in the 1600s, and experimented it with coffee to avoid open fire for brewing coffee on the long sea voyage. The result is the cold brew coffee we all love today. Contrary to cold brew coffee, famously known of being heavily caffeinated, cold brew tea actually has less caffeine and polyphenols compared to hot brew tea because of the low brewing temperature.
But since theanine aren’t prohibited by low temperature, cold brew tea still retains the health benefits and sweetness of tea, making this method an ideal iced tea preparation.
How to make cold brew tea
Tea(g) : water(g) ratio = 1:100 (increase ration up to 1:50 for stronger tea or faster brew time)
Incorporate loose leave tea or tea bag with cold water. Place tea in the refrigerator for 4 ~ 24 hours.
Strain tea and serve chilled or over ice. Consume within 5 days in refrigeration.
Cold brew tea type
All tea types can be cold brew. None fermentation or lightly fermented teas are particularly great as cold brew teas. Cold brew is also an excellent way to brew floral botanicals.
However, different tea type requires different brew time. Here are some of our recommendation.
green tea: 4 ~ 8 hours in the refrigerator.
light ferment oolong or baozhong: Let sit at room temperature for up to 4 hours. continue brewing in the refrigerator to eliminate the chances of bacteria growth for additional 8 ~ 12 hours.
rolled oolong: Rinse tea with hot water. Incorporate tea with water and let sit at room temperature for up to 4 hours. continue brewing in the refrigerator to eliminate the chances of bacteria growth for additional 8 ~ 12 hours.
black tea: Let sit at room temperature for up to 4 hours. continue brewing in the refrigerator to eliminate the chances of bacteria growth for additional 18 ~ 20 hours.
