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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.

You might also like...

If you love cold drinks, check out our guide to The Best Thermos for Keeping Drinks Cold or try our Classic Peach Iced Tea Recipe.

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