Little droplets of water form on the outside of the glass jug as I lift the latest batch of cold brew tea from the fridge here at The Tea Makers HQ. Left to gently infuse overnight, this ice tea has developed a beautifully smooth and delicate character, and I’m excited to taste our newest summer creation. I pour the pale yellow-green liquid into a glass and, with quiet anticipation, take my first sip. The flavour is soft and understated, yet a true reflection of the tea’s exceptional quality.
This gentle cold brew method highlights the skill and craftsmanship of our tea artisans. Cold brewing is a simple, effortless way to create iced tea, producing a clean, naturally sweet infusion that is both refreshing and wonderfully thirst-quenching.
What is the difference between brewing hot or cold?
Cold brewing brings out the natural sweetness in the tea leaves, whilst minimising the bitterness.
This is because traditional brewing relies on high temperatures to extract all the flavour from the tea leaves, including the naturally occurring bitterness which occurs in teas.
Cold brewing is a less intensive method, relying on time to extract flavour. Due to this reduced intensity, the same bitterness is not found in cold brew tea.
Cold Brew vs Iced Tea
While often used interchangeably, cold brew tea and iced tea are slightly different. Cold brew tea is made by steeping tea leaves or teabags in cold water over a longer period, usually several hours or overnight. This gentle method creates a smoother, naturally sweeter flavour with less bitterness.
Traditional iced tea, on the other hand, is typically brewed hot first and then cooled over ice. This produces a stronger, more robust flavour, but can sometimes bring out more bitterness. Both methods are refreshing, but cold brew is ideal for a softer, cleaner taste, perfect for easy, everyday sipping.
Health Benefits of Cold Brew
Depending on the type of tea, it offers various health benefits such as antioxidants and is a great way to add a little natural and sugar-free sweetness to your fresh water. The NHS recommend that we should each drink six to eight glasses of fluid a day.
Instead of drinking glass after glass of bland water, cold brewing is a fantastic way of adding different flavours to your beverage without the sugars, unnatural flavourings and artificial colours that are found in most squash, juices and other soft drinks.
Our 100% biodegradable Triune teabags are a super easy way of making a delicious cold brew- simply pop one in your water bottle overnight and enjoy a refreshment that is both healthy and delicious.
Cold brewed tea is very versatile. You can choose different flavours for different occasions and mix up a variety of drinks for people of all ages. Brew a naturally caffeine free fruity tea for your children to drink at school or let peppermint leaves infuse overnight for a new twist to your Friday night Mojito - the possibilities are endless.
Four Cold Brew Recipes That You Need To Try
Our expert tea tasters have concocted the four perfect cold brews for you to try during this summer season!
With cold brew's rise in popularity, the drinks make great alternatives to juices or energy drinks, which contain copious amounts of sugar. Luckily for you, our cold brews are 100% natural with only water and the tea leaves in each cup. Plus, they are seriously refreshing and ideal for pairing with snacks, salads and summer meals!
We understand juggling work and family life doesn't always leave you much time to indulge in a good cuppa, and that's why we have created these easy recipes for you to follow. Quick, simple and no fuss but still with the great quality and taste of loose leaf from The Tea Makers.
Margaret’s Hope- Darjeeling Second Flush
Darjeelings are some of the lightest black teas, and so they lend themselves perfectly to cold brew, creating a drink that is delicate, slightly floral and complex and filled with the flavours of the misty Himalayas. This cold brew is ideal for afternoon teas, enjoying alongside cakes, biscuits and scones.
Method, for 2-3 cups:
1) Add 2-3 teaspoons Margeret’s Hope to Easy Glass Teapot (800ml)
2) Fill teapot with cold tap water
3) Leave to brew overnight (the longer black teas are allowed to brew, the better)
4) Pour into your glass cup and enjoy the muscatel, fruity layers of this Second Flush
Japanese Sencha Cold Brew
Our Sencha cold brew makes for the perfect aperitif or palate cleanser after an evening meal. Alternatively, a good drink to enjoy at any time of the day. May we recommend you try this brew after a fish dinner, to really savour the freshness of the Sencha leaves. Its subtle green liquor and thirst-quenching properties create a delicious drink that you will not want to put down.
Method, for 2-3 cups:
1) Add 2-3 teaspoons Japanese Sencha to Easy Glass Teapot (800ml)
2) Fill teapot with cold tap water
3) Leave to brew for minimum 4 hours or overnight. The longer it brews, the stronger it will get.
4) Pour into your glass cup and enjoy the chilled sweet, grassy tones Sencha has to offer.
Oriental Beauty Cold Brew
This premium oolong has a natural honey sweetness that adds that special touch of class to your home afternoon teas and works particularly nicely with sweet treats or canapes!
Your taste buds are met with an initial nuttiness and then cleansed with subtle fruity tones. A delicately mellow delight that we know you will enjoy.
Method, for 2-3 cups:
1) Add 2-3 teaspoons of loose leaf Oriental Beauty to our Easy Glass Teapot (800ml)
2) Fill teapot with cold tap water
3) Leave to brew for minimum 4 hours or overnight. The longer it brews, the stronger it will get.
4) Pour into your glass cup and revel in this supremely floral drink.
Hibiscus Bora Bora Cold Brew
The King of fruit teas! Named after the island of Bora Bora, this loose leaf fruit tea is created by combining an array exquisite fruits to create a sweet and tangy flavour.
Method, for 2-3 cups:
1) Add 2-3 teaspoons of loose leaf Hibiscus Bora Bora
2) Fill teapot with cold tap water
3) Leave to brew for minimum 4 hours or overnight. The longer it brews, the stronger it will get.
4) Pour into your glass cup and revel in this amazingly fruity drink
Three delicious and simple to brew Fruit Ice Teas
On warmer days, there’s nothing quite like sipping an iced tea in the sunshine, soaking up the blue skies and watching the clouds drift by. These fruit tea blends are perfect for warm and bright spring afternoons and long, relaxed summer days. Below, you’ll find a simple brewing guide, along with a selection of refreshing teas to enjoy and where to buy ice tea.
These teas can be enjoyed on the go simply by popping them into your water bottle, impressing your guests at garden parties, or a refreshing alcohol-free mocktail alternative at BBQs.
How to brew iced tea:
Follow the guide below to simply brew there 3 ice teas.
- Add 1 teabag to 250ml of cold water
- Leave to infuse for at least 5 minutes
- Top with ice, then enjoy chilled.
Try topping it with a splash of soda water for a little sparkle and a refreshing mocktail twist.
Strawberry & Watermelon - Ice Tea
Strawberry & Watermelon Ice Tea is a refreshing fruit infusion perfect for summer, combining the juicy sweetness of watermelon with a lingering strawberry finish. This cold brew iced tea delivers a delicate pink colour and a light, naturally sweet flavour, making it an ideal caffeine-free drink for warm days. Crafted with hibiscus and rosehip, this vibrant iced tea is designed for effortless preparation and is perfect for on-the-go hydration.
*The consumption of hibiscus is not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
White Tea Apple Mint - Ice Tea
White Tea Apple Mint Ice Tea is a light and refreshing iced tea that perfectly balances delicate white tea with crisp apple and cooling mint. This cold brew iced tea offers a clean, subtly sweet flavour with a fresh peppermint lift, making it an ideal summer drink for staying cool and hydrated. Naturally rich in antioxidants from the minimally processed white tea leaves, this fruit iced tea delivers both flavour and refreshment.
Rose Lemonade - Ice Tea
Rose Lemonade Ice Tea is a beautifully refreshing iced tea that blends delicate floral notes with bright citrus for a perfectly balanced summer drink. Combining fragrant rose with zesty lemon, this cold brew iced tea delivers a subtly sweet, lightly tangy flavour and a soft pink infusion. The result is a sophisticated and uplifting fruit iced tea, perfect for warm afternoons. *The consumption of hibiscus is not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Other great cold brew teas:
With a selection of over 100 teas we have just the right tea for your cold brewed project. Therefore, we have tested and tasted an array of teas and have created a list of flavours that work a treat for this avant-garde tea brewing method.
Dragon Well: a nutty and fresh Chinese green tea, a great first-time cold brew. Works well with our Organic Dragon Well and our Supreme Dragon Well.
Sencha Goji Berry: Bursting with high levels of healthy antioxidants and rich in vitamins, this exceptional green tea blend will revitalise your senses and boost your immune system.
Menthos Gunpowder: An invigorating blend, inspired by the traditional teas of northern Africa. The invigorating green tea and zingy peppermint uplift you, while the cold brew cools you down.
Peppermint Leaves: Similar to our Menthos Gunpowder, the peppermint leaves offer an invigorating, caffeine-free option for cold brews this summer.
Christmas Tea- It’s Christmas in July! Our Christmas tea features a light black tea base and is infused with a host of fruity flavours, making it a shockingly good option for the hotter months
