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Cold Brew Fruit Tea: The Non-Bitter Way

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Most people make iced tea by boiling water, brewing it hot (and bitter), and then shocking it with ice. This is wrong. Cold Brewing is a game changer.

By steeping tea leaves in cold water over a long period, you extract the sweet amino acids and aromatic fruit notes without pulling out the harsh tannins or catechins. The result? A crystal clear, naturally sweet tea that needs zero sugar.

A glass pitcher filled with cold brew tea, strawberries, and mint leaves.
Prep Time5 mins
Steep Time8 Hours
Yield1 Pitcher

Ingredients

  • 1 Litre Filtered Water (Room Temp)
  • 10g Loose Leaf Tea (Approx 2 Tbsp)
  • Fruit Combos:
  • 1 Cup Sliced Strawberries & Basil (Best with Green Tea)
  • 1 Sliced Peach & Ginger (Best with Oolong)
  • 1 Sliced Orange & Lemon (Best with Earl Grey)
Nutrition per glass:
Calories: 5
Sugar: 0g
Caffeine: 15-30mg

Instructions

1
The Combine: In a large glass pitcher or jar, add your loose leaf tea and the sliced fruit/herbs. You do not need an infuser basket; letting the leaves float freely (The "Grandpa Style" approach) allows them to expand fully.
2
The Pour: Fill the pitcher with room temperature, filtered water. Do not use hot water at any stage. Give it a gentle stir to ensure all leaves are submerged.
3
The Wait: Cover the pitcher and place it in the refrigerator.
Green/White Tea: Steep for 6-8 hours.
Black/Oolong Tea: Steep for 8-12 hours (Overnight is best).
4
Strain & Serve: Pour the tea through a fine mesh strainer into a serving glass filled with ice. The tea will be lighter in color than hot tea, but the flavor will be incredibly pure.

Barista Tips

No Sugar Needed: Because cold water doesn't extract bitterness, your brain perceives the tea as sweeter. Taste it before adding sweetener!

The "Sparkling" Hack: Instead of still water, try cold brewing directly in a bottle of sparkling mineral water. Just pour out a little water first to make room for the fruit, recap tightly, and fridge it.