How to Make the Perfect Iced Tea with Loose Leaf Tea

Hot summer days are approaching, and we get it: only the die-hard tea drinkers still reach for their hot tea. Balmy, hot days call for refreshing and crisp iced tea. However, a common misconception in the tea community is that you must sacrifice the fresh, high-quality ingredient of loose leaf tea to enjoy an iced beverage. This is simply not the case! We are going to show you how to make loose leaf iced tea and some of our favorite flavor combinations for the summer ahead.

There are two staple methods for brewing your tea!

How to Make a Loose Leaf Tea Concentrate

Step One: Measure Out Your Loose Leaf Tea

Measure out your tea of choice. For a concentrate you are going to want to double the normal recommended amount.

Step Two: Heat Your Water and Steep

Heat your water to the specified temperature for your tea, being careful not to over boil. Over boiled water can sometimes leave an unwanted taste. Pour your hot water over your tea bag (using half the normal amount for the concentrate). If your tea normally calls for 8 ounces of water, only use 4 ounces. Then infuse your tea leaves for the specified time.

Step Three: Combine Your Concentrate With Ice

Take your loose leaf iced tea concentrate and briefly shake in a tumbler with ice. Once everything is properly combined, pour your mixture over ice and enjoy!

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 (1-2 teaspoons per 8 ounces of water) 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!

Additional Loose Leaf Iced Tea Tips

1. Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons of tea for every 8 ounces of water.
2. Use fresh/filtered water for a pure taste.
3. Use a thermometer to brew tea at the best temperature.
4. Use a timer! Over-steeping your tea can yield a bitter tasting tea.
5. If you are looking for a sweet iced tea, it is best to sweeten your tea when it is still hot!
6. Add fresh fruit and complimentary herbs for an elevated flavor.

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. Don’t be afraid to mix  flavors and add ingredients for a truly unique experience.

Article written by Natalie Mast