Iced tea is a refreshing beverage that’s perfect for warm weather, easy to make, and can be customised in many ways.
Advantages of Cold Brew Tea:
Smoother Flavour: Cold brewing produces a tea that is less bitter and more subtly flavoured, which might be more appealing to those who find hot brewed tea too harsh.
Less Caffeine: Cold brew tea typically contains less caffeine than its hot brewed counterpart, making it a better choice for those looking to reduce their caffeine intake.
Extraction: Some research indicates that cold brew tea can have comparable or even higher levels of certain antioxidants such as catechins, depending on the steeping duration and the type of tea.
Reduced Acidity: The gentler extraction process results in less acidity, which is easier on the stomach and beneficial for those with digestive sensitivities.
Convenience: Cold brew tea can be made in large batches and stored in the refrigerator for several days, providing convenience and consistency.
Refreshing Qualities: The cool nature of cold brew tea makes it especially refreshing and hydrating during hot weather, enhancing its appeal as a thirst quencher.
This detailed recipe should help you create the perfect glass of iced tea, complete with nutritional information and helpful tips for adjustments and servings.
What you will need:
| Ingredient | Measure |
| Tea bags | 5-6 |
| Water | 600 ml |
| Sugar (Optional) | 2 tbsp |
| Honey (Optional) | 1 tsp / 100 ml |
| Crystalline Citric Acid | 1/2 tsp or more |
| or Fresh lime juice | 1 tsp or more |
| Sliced lime or lemon | 1 / serve |
| Mint sprigs | 1 / serve |
| Ice | As needed |
Time Required
Soaking time – 8 – 12 hours
Preparation time – 10 minutes
Estimated Calories and Yield
Calories / 100ml – 30 – 40 cal (May change based on addition of sweeteners)
Total yield – 600 ml
Equipments:
- Large pitcher with lid or bowl
- Cling wrap
- A strainer (if using loose tea)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- A spatula
- A lemon squeezer
Instructions:
Cold brewing the tea
- In a pitcher add 500 ml of water.
- Soak the tea bags in the water.
- Leave them to soak and chill for 12 hours.
Assembling the iced tea
- In a jar take 100 ml of room temperature water.
- Add the sugar or honey and lime juice or crystalline citric acid.
- Mix the ingredients in the water till they dissolve.
- Add mint leaves and crush them gently in the water.
- Now add the cold brewed tea portion and mix well.
Rule of thumb!
Crystalline citric acid is a great way to achieve the perfect acidity when you do not have lime or lemon handy. Typically, lemon and lime juice has a citric acid concentration of 5-6% and 4-5% respectively.
To achieve a flavourful concentration using citric acid crystals, you will need more or less of 1 teaspoon of crystals per 1000 ml of water.
Serving
- In a glass, add 3-4 ice cubes
- Pour in enough ice tea to fill 80% of the glass
- Garnish it with a lemon slice, mint sprigs and enjoy
Serve with lemon wedges, mint leaves, or a splash of fruit juice for added flavour. For a sweetened version, serve with simple syrup on the side so everyone can sweeten to their taste.
My Tips:
- Use earl grey tea or assam tea for the best results.
- Replace sugar with honey for a lighter note of sweetness.
- The amount of sugar can be adjusted according to taste, but generally, it scales directly with the amount of water used.
- If you prefer a citrus flavour, add lemon, lime, or orange slices to the tea while it cools.
- For a herbal twist, add a few sprigs of fresh mint or rosemary to the steeping tea.
- To prepare a more caffeine rich variant, add the tea bags to hot (50°C to 70°C) water in the beginning and then let it brew overnight at a colder temperature.
Troubleshooting Guide:
The tea is cloudy
If the extraction is done in hot brew method, resulting tea may acquire a cloudy appearance when refrigerated.
The tea is too sweet
Reduce the amount of sugar next time. For the current batch, add more chilled tea or water to dilute.
Don’t forget to share your results and tag @bake.hows on instagram
