Ingredients
The Golden Ratio (1:15)- 30g Loose Leaf Tea (or 8-10 tea bags)
- 500ml Water (Filtered is best)
- Optional: Sugar or Honey (added while hot)
Best Teas for Concentrate:
- Earl Grey: For London Fogs.
- Masala Chai: For Iced Chai Lattes.
- Thai Tea Mix: For orange Thai Iced Tea.
- Hibiscus: For caffeine-free "fruit punch" soda.
Nutrition per 50ml shot (unsweetened):
Calories: ~5
Caffeine: ~40mg
Sugar: 0g
Fat: 0g
Instructions
1
Heat the Water: Boil your water. For Black/Herbal/Chai, use boiling (100°C). For Green/Jasmine, let it cool to 80°C to avoid bitterness.
2
The "Triple Strength" Steep: Combine water and tea in a heat-proof pitcher. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes. This is much longer than normal because we want a super-strong, tannic extraction that can stand up to milk and ice.
3
Sweeten (Optional): If you like sweet lattes, add your sugar or honey now while the liquid is hot. It will dissolve instantly, creating a syrup.
4
Strain & Store: Strain the leaves out completely. Pour the concentrate into a sterilized glass bottle (like a Hario bottle). Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.
5
How to Serve: Fill a glass with ice. Pour 1 part Concentrate to 3 parts Milk (for Lattes) or Water (for Iced Tea). Stir and enjoy.
Why Does My Concentrate Get Cloudy?
This is called "Cream Down" (see our Tea Chemistry article). It happens when hot tea cools too slowly. To fix it, add a tiny pinch of baking soda to the hot brew, or just add a splash of boiling water to your cup before serving to clear it up instantly.