How To Make Big Batch Iced Tea
Keep your guests hydrated and happy with a big batch of delicious iced tea. Our easy one pot method for brewing organic tea concentrate can make unlimited gallons of iced tea for all to enjoy! The instructions below make 1 gallon of iced tea. But, if you are preparing for a larger gathering, simply scale up the measurements to make enough for your event.
Makes 1 Gallon , approx. 16 servings
Step One: Measure Your Loose Tea
Measure 7 tablespoons of Organic Nilgiri Black Tea.
Step Two: Heat Your Water and Steep
Fill a large pot with 8 cups of fresh water and bring to a boil. After the water reaches a full boil , turn off heat, and add the Organic Nilgiri Black Tea to the pot. Steep for 3-5 minutes stirring the tea occasionally.
Step Three: Prepare Your Serving Container
While the tea is steeping, fill a 1 gallon beverage dispenser or beverage cooler with ice .
Step Four: Add Sweetner and Cool the Brew
If desired, add sweetener directly to the pot of tea while the tea is still hot. Stir well to ensure the sweetener fully dissolves into the brewed tea. Add 2 cups of cold fresh water to your brewed tea concentrate.
Step Five: Add Tea Concentrate to Beverage Dispenser
Pour tea concentrate+water mixture through a strainer or fine sieve directly over the ice in the beverage container. Press strained tea leaves to extract all the brew. Serve and enjoy!
Optional: Add lemon slices for a citrusy boost.
How Many Teaspoons Of Tea Do I Need For Iced Tea
You may prepare both hot and iced tea using the same amount of tea leaves and water. If the guidelines on the loose leaf tea state to use 1.5 teaspoons for 1 cup of hot tea, that typically holds true for 1 cup of iced tea as well thus, you may use 1.5 teaspoons of loose leaf tea for each cup of iced tea.
What Type Of Tea To Drink And When
Some types of tea are better for certain types of tea than others. Teas with a high caffeine content are best earlier in the day, for example. But be careful. So many sources will tell you that black tea has the most caffeine and white the the least. This is completely false.
Caffeine content does not depend on the type of tea. Instead, it depends on many factors: the age of the leaves , the variety of tea bush , the processing , the growing conditions and more.
White teas actually have more caffeine than most types, especially baihao yinzhen tea . It is made from only young buds, comes from a variety high in caffeine and the growing area sees a lot of cloud and fog cover. It is also not roasted.
Later in the day or after dark, the best teas to drink are herbal infusions, which dont have any caffeine. For varieties made from the actual tea plant, your best bet is houjicha. It uses old leaves, grows in full sunlight and is roasted. It is often given to children in Japan, due to the low caffeine content.
Also Check: Does Gold Peak Tea Have Caffeine
Don’t Miss: Popping Boba Dunkin
Loose Leaf Tea Vs Tea Bags
Brew a teaspoon of loose leaf tea and one tea bag of the same type of tea, and you will notice the difference after the first sip. The loose tea will be more aromatic, richer in flavor, and will provide a better-tasting aftertaste.
It is no secret that the traditional tea bags prevent the tea from infusing its full potential. But the potency, quality, freshness, and taste are not the only difference.
Another thing that makes us loose-leaf fans for life is their zero waste use. While tea bags are hard to recycle, loose leaves are an eco-friendly option. You can store them in your glass jars, without having a bag to throw after each brew.
How Do You Steep Tea For Iced Tea
You May Like: Dunkin Donuts Bubble Tea Near Me
How To Make Loose Iced Tea
Turn your favorite loose leaf tea into your favorite iced tea with the Tea Jay Iced Tea Maker by Blomus. The purist design offers a visual highlight when presented at the table. Just add ice into the glass carafe, along with delicious fruits, fresh juice, water or sugar syrup. Add loose tea and hot water into the filter reservoir which is integrated into the stainless steel top. Once the tea is done steeping, twist the top and watch as the hot tea releases into the carafe below, mixing with the ice making delicious iced tea in minutes.
Traditional Sun Tea Glass Containers with Dispensers
Additional Loose Leaf Iced Tea Tips
Fava carries a wide variety of blends that taste amazing iced, and you would be surprised as to how different of a flavor experience it can be! We suggest many of our year round blends both hot and iced, but our summer seasonal are flavors geared towards the warmer months. Find this list below and in-stores to make the perfect loose leaf iced tea for you. Dont be afraid to mix flavors and add ingredients for a truly unique experience.
Article written by Natalie Mast
Also Check: Iaso Tea Vs Fit Tea
Does Tea Need To Be Refrigerated
Unless you are planning to drink the tea warm, its important to refrigerate it. Refrigerating the tea will not only provide you with cold tea when you are ready for it, but it also prevents bacteria from growing. Tea that sits out can grow bacteria very quickly, so you should drink it right away or chill it.
First Step: Measuring Loose Tea
Begin by measuring the loose tea. Ideally, you have to use one teaspoon of the ingredient for every cup. However, other blends may require you to use more than one tablespoon, while others demand less than a teaspoon. As a general rule, you have to check the guidelines to determine the recommended serving size for every cup.
First, place the tea in a tea brew or infuser to prepare a DIY teabag and then place it in an iced drink pitcher or heat resistant glass. If you are preparing the drink for many people, it is worth noting that one quart needs at least ½ ounce of the loose leaf.
Don’t Miss: Dunkin Donuts Strawberry Bubbles
How To Make Flash
Featuring two stackable, sculpturally designed Steep & Chill pitchers, our Tea Over Ice® Pitcher Set combines form and function to elevate iced tea to a higher level. The hot tea steeps in the heat-resistant top pitcher for a dramatic presentation as the pyramid infuser releases your teas flavor, swirling out from the center and dancing through the water as you wait. Once your tea is perfectly steeped, about 3-5 minutes, pour the hot tea into the lower pitcher filled with ice and enjoy!
We offer a variety of iced tea blends. Our most popular Sampler box includes five delicious iced teas, each in its own pyramid infuser for individual use. The quintet features Ceylon Gold, Blood Orange, Mango Peach, Ginger Pear, and Raspberry Nectar, all blended to perfection for an exceptional iced tea experience. Once youve found a favorite blend, stock up on our Tea Over Ice 5pks or Tea Over Ice Event Boxes of 40 pyramids to please a crowd or keep you cool all summer long.
To cap off your experience, pair your Pitcher Set with our beautiful, double-walled POOM glasses to keep your iced tea cold on a warm summer’s day. To enjoy a larger serving with a friend, our 16-ounce Double Walled Glass Set of 2 is an excellent choice.
How To Brew Your Loose Leaf Tea
Depending on whom you talk to, brewing tea can be a very simple or a very complicated matter. The government of Great Britain actually maintains official specifications on the proper way to brew tea! Were not so strict at Arbor Teas we firmly believe that tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste.
In that spirit, were happy to provide this step-by-step guide to get you started, but please remember you can make adjustments based on your own tea preferences. There are three main considerations when brewing tea: quantity of tea, water temperature and steeping time.
Note: If you are brewing Matcha please check here for a step by step guide on How to Make Matcha.
Step One: Measure Your Loose Tea
Start by measuring your loose leaf tea. Generally, you should measure 1 teaspoon loose leaf tea per 8 oz cup of water. However, fluffier blends such as white teas and Chamomile may require as much as one tablespoon or more, while denser teas such as Gunpowder may require less than one teaspoon. Look at the label on the back of your Arbor Teas bag to find our suggested serving size per 8 oz cup. Place the measured tea in an infuser or directly in your cup/teacup. Next place the infuser in your cup/teapot.
Step Two: Heat Your Water to Temperature
- Black & Pu-Erh: 212° F
No thermometer? Not to worry! Heres an easy way to estimate temperatures:
- 180° F = bubbles form on the bottom of the pot
- 195° F = the first bubbles begin to rise
- 212° F = full rolling boil
Don’t Miss: Swiss Diet Iced Tea
Reasons To Brew Loose Leaf Tea
Still not sure whether brewing loose leaf tea is a better choice? Well, let these benefits convince you, then:
Loose Leaf Tea Is High In Quality
This shouldnt even be explained, really. Loose leaf tea is whole and unbroken, meaning that you always know what youre getting. A teaspoon of leaves is a teaspoon of tea, without any fannings, dust, or other unwanted particles.
Loose Leaf Tea Is Healthier
Being unprocessed, loose leaf tea makes one healthy cuppa. Steeping whole leaves means extracting more of the teas healthy oils and compounds, which is what everyone is looking for in a nourishing cup.
Loose Leaf Tea Is Diverse and Allows for Combos
Loose leaf tea is not only black or green. The fresh leaf-tea options are pretty endless, and the best thing of all is that you can mix them up as you see fit. Making your own blends and finding a unique taste is only possible if using loose leaf tea.
How To Make Iced Tea With Loose Leaf Tea
Last updated By Daniel
Nothing cools you down on a hot summer day like a cool, refreshing glass of iced tea.
The only problem: most iced tea recipes call for a ton of sugar, which makes them almost as unhealthy as a soda.
But there is a way to get a great-tasting iced tea without resorting to sugar. Or perhaps even without using any sweetener whatsoever.
The answer is loose leaf tea.
Not only does it offer more health benefits than tea made from bags, it also tastes so much better. Seriously, it is like night and day.
Tea bags all have that generic tea bag flavor. Whether green or white or black, they all kind of taste the same. But loose leaf teas have a complex and rich flavor, with each variety of tea offering something different.
If you still prefer bags, consider making your own tea bags. It is much easier than you may think and that way you can use quality leaves in them.
So get yourself some high quality tea leaves and lets learn how to make iced tea with loose leaf tea.
Read Also: Premixed Long Island Iced Tea Recipe
How To Make Overnight Loose Leaf Iced Tea
Step One: Measure Out Your Loose Leaf Tea
Measure out your tea of choice. You will need 8-12 teaspoons of tea for this method. Add your loose leaf tea to a filtered bag, a large infuser ball, or a specialized cold-steeping pitcher.
Step Two: Add Your Water and Steep
Add cold water to your tea and let the mixture sit in your fridge for 8-12 hours. We recommend doing this at night so you can enjoy your refreshing beverage in the morning!
Step Three: Serve and Enjoy
After the long steep, you will have a perfect pitcher of fresh loose leaf iced tea. Serve for your friends and enjoy!
Simple Syrup Is Ideal For Sweetening Iced Tea
If you want to make a tasty iced tea, simple syrup is the perfect choice. Simple syrup is low in calories and easily blends with cold liquids. It also has a distinctly sweet taste that pairs well with iced tea. Alternatively, you can use agave syrup or date syrup. All three sweeten the tea in a similar way to sugar. In addition to simple syrup, there are several other options available, including rock sugar, stevia, and agave.
Sugar and honey blend well with hot or warm tea. When served cold, simple syrup is best. Simple syrup is simply sugar dissolved in water. Then, just add it to taste. You can also flavor simple syrup with different flavors like vanilla, lemon, or orange zest, or chopped fruits. If you dont want to make your own simple syrup, you can also purchase commercially made ones in almost any flavor you like.
Don’t Miss: Iaso Detox Tea While Pregnant
Cold Brew Iced Tea Is Stronger Than Hot Brewed Tea
There are many benefits of cold-brew iced tea, which is usually sweeter and less bitter than hot-brewed tea. Cold-infused tea takes a longer time to brew, and it retains the flavor of the tea. It also leaves behind less bitterness, as it doesnt pull out the same chemicals that hot-brewed tea does. This process is more time consuming, but the tea can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.
Infusing tea leaves in hot water creates a stronger and more powerful beverage than cold-brewed tea. Green and white tea are best suited for this method. Researchers Elisabetta Vendittis study concluded that cold-brew white tea contains higher antioxidant levels than hot-brewed tea. The taste is also more intense. Its a bit different than hot-brewed tea.
Benefits Of Making Tea With Cold Water
If youre new to making cold brew iced tea, you probably have a few questions. For example, you may be wondering why so many people, including myself, say that cold brew tea is the best way to make iced tea.
Additionally, you may be wondering the benefits of cold brew tea.
In a nutshell, cold brewing tea is the perfect technique since the steps are foolproof, the flavor is smooth and complex, and the process may improve some nutritional benefits.
Don’t Miss: How To Pass The Teas Test With A High Score
Best Homemade Iced Tea Recipe
Instructions:
How To Brew Iced Tea Final Thoughts
Now you know how to make ice tea with loose leaf tea. Pretty simple, right?
Now you no longer have to suffer through the hottest months of the year. Cool down with a tasty, cool, refreshing glass of iced tea made from good quality loose tea leaves and even the hottest days wont leave you sweating and without energy.
And you definitely want to use loose leaf tea leaves. Avoid the tea bags. Loose leaves provide the full health benefits that are associated with unprocessed tea, like a natural boost in energy, antioxidants, and important vitamins and nutrients.
This tea is perfect for the summer months, but it can also be a great drink any time of the year, if youre looking for a bolder tasting, fruity tea that isnt too bitter or strong.
Recommended Reading: Can Herbal Tea Cause Kidney Stones
Choosing A Tea For Cold Brewing
Making cold brew tea is a great opportunity to get creative. There are all sorts of teas to choose from, meaning you can make your selection based on your individual tastes and desires. Some people like earthier teas, while others like strong and bold teas. You can also select a tea based on how much caffeine you desire. Knowing the differences in teas is important when choosing what type to make a cold brew.
Read Also: Do Starbucks Have Boba Tea
How To Make Iced Tea Using Loose Leaf Tea
There are a few ways to make iced tea with loose leaf teas and either works really well. I would say the difference is the time you have to prepare and if you want to steep your tea multiple times to get the most out of the tea leaves. Give both a try and let us know which you prefer. Here are our two recommended ways for brewing loose leaf teas and making a delicious iced tea you, your family, and friends will enjoy. The first method is to cold brew your iced tea, meaning you leave it in the fridge overnight for approximately 8-12 hours. The second method, which we tend to use when time is limited, is to make a concentrated batch by steeping it in hot water and either letting it cool off, mixing it with colder water, or just pouring it over ice. Seems simple enough right? It really is! Let’s review the steps for each method.
Read Also: How To Brew Essiac Tea