By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, LM, RA (Registered Aromatherapist)

Pictured: Cold Brewed Hibiscus Lime Tea – Thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs for providing the organic products to make this recipe!

Have you ever over-brewed your hot tea, making a bitter drink that’s hard to enjoy? Cold brewing is a way to slowly infuse tea leaves and herbs without extracting excessive tannins that can cause a bitter taste. Plus, delicate nutrients and flavors will not be scorched in the heating process.

Year round, I am a big fan of cold brewing herbal teas! I always have a pitcher-full of a vibrant and refreshing blend ready to drink in my refrigerator. They are easy to make, hard to over-brew, and offer a depth of deliciousness that a hot tea can’t match. This article includes my favorite 5 cold brew tea recipes!

PS – Be picky and make your teas with organic herbs. And use filtered water. You will taste the difference!

More nutritious, delicious, and easier to make!

• Nutritious: The cold brewing method extracts a different spectrum of nutrients than hot brewing. This is because the temperature-sensitive vitamins, minerals, and nutrients are not destroyed from the heat.
• Delicious: The flavor is more vibrant, deep, and refreshing. And, very importantly, it is less bitter!
• Easy Breezy: Just combine your tea leaves and herbs with water in a glass jar and keep it cool for about 8-12 hours. Strain and then drink.

Try these 5 Cold Brew Tea Recipes!

Listed below are instructions for making my five favorite cold brew recipes. But first, here are three things to consider before making the recipes.

• Adding Sweetener: Note that I have added the extra step of including a sweetener like honey or sugar. While adding sweetness is not necessary, I find that it elevates these recipes to be more delicious. Further, I have found that it is important to bring sweeteners to a boil with water to allow it to dissolve and mix into the whole recipe properly. It only takes about 10 extra minutes to do, and it is worth it!
• Strength: Personal preference dictates the desired strength of flavor. I like to brew on the stronger side, and then add more water, if needed. Strength of flavor can also be reduced by shortening the brewing time, or adding less herbs.
• Possible Contraindications: While most herbs and teas are ok for most adults to drink in normal food quantity amounts, there can be exceptions. For people with medical conditions, consult your Doctor if you have any questions.

Pictured: Hibiscus Lime Tea being Cold Brewed – Thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs for providing the organic products to make this recipe!

Hibiscus Lime Cold-Brewed Tea Recipe

Hands down, this is the most delicious cold brew tea I have ever made. And the brilliant red color is so divine! This is a great tea to serve guests – it’s sure to impress.

For a milder flavor after brewing, try adding more water. In addition, I have found that deleting sugar from this recipe simply does not work because it is needed to take away the bitterness of the lime peel.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of filtered water
• 1 cups of sugar
• 1 ounces of lime peel powder
• 2 ounces of dried hibiscus flowers
• 6 cups of cold filtered water

Instructions

• First, make lime flavored simple syrup. Add 2 cups of water and 1 cups of sugar to a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat and stir in the lime powder.
• Pour the lime syrup into a large (8 cup size) glass jar or pitcher.
• Then, pour 6 more cups of cold water into the pitcher.
• Add the dried hibiscus flowers, stir, and brew in the refrigerator for about 12 hours. The longer it is brewed, the stronger the flavor.
• Strain, then drink.

Pictured: Early Grey Lavender Tea being Cold Brewed – Thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs for providing the organic products to make this recipe!

Earl Grey Lavender Cold Brewed Tea Recipe

An early grey offers a special surprise in that the dried tea leaves have been luxuriously flavored with essential oil of bergamot. Extracted from the citrus rind of Citrus bergamia, the addition imparts a sweet citrus and slightly floral flavor. Earl grey teas taste more robustly flavorful when cold brewed. Adding the lavender offers an additional sweet, smooth, floral note.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of filtered water
• ½ cup of sugar
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 4 Tbsp of loose-leaf dried earl grey green tea leaves
• 2 Tbsp of dried lavender tops
• 7 cups of cold filtered water

Instructions

• First, make the simple syrup. Combine ½ cup of water and ½ cup of sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
• Then, remove from heat and add the vanilla extract.
• Pour into a large (8 cup size) glass pitcher.
• Add the 7 cups of cool water.
• Then, add the earl grey and lavender herbs and stir.
• Brew in the refrigerator for about 8-12 hours. Brewing longer will create a stronger flavor.
• Strain and drink.

Pictured: Chai spices whole and ground – Thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs for providing the organic products to make this recipe!

Cool Cold Brewed Chai Recipe

Chai is spicy, sweet, and creamy tea using traditional Indian spices. I like to pre-make the ground spice mix, from which I can mix up a cold brewed or hot brewed chai tea easily. The basic rule of thumb is to add 2 tsp of ground spices to 1 cup of water to brew. Then, add 1 cup of milk and sweetener based on taste preference.

However, I when I cold brew, I like to brew the spices in with the milk as well because it extracts more of the fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp of sweet cinnamon chips
• 1/2 tsp of black peppercorns
• 1/4 tsp of hulled or 1 tsp of whole cardamom seeds
• 1/2 tsp of dried orange peel
• 1 tsp of dried ginger
• 1/2 tsp of cloves
• 2 tsp of dried tea leaves
• 3 1/2 cups of milk (oat, soy, etc.)
• ½ cup honey
• 3 1/2 cups of filtered water
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract

Pictured: Using a Fine Mesh Strainer to Strain the Cold Brew Chai Recipe

Instructions

• First, grind the spices and tea leaves to a coarse powder in a blender. Then, add the milk and blend the milk together with the spices.
• Separately, heat honey and water together in a saucepan. Stir frequently until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat, then add the vanilla extract.
• In an 8-cup sized jar or pitcher, combine all the ingredients. Shake well.
• Brew in the refrigerator for up to 8 hours.
• Strain and drink. Hint: For a milder taste, add more milk.

Pictured: Lemon Poppy Green Tea Cold Brew Recipe – Thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs for providing the organic products to make this recipe!

Cold Brewed Lemon Poppy Green Tea

This cold brew offers a mild and refreshing flavor, making it a joy to drink a tall glassful. I especially like the way green tea leaves cold brew. And the ginger, lemon peel, and poppy seeds compliment the flavor nicely.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 cups of filtered water
• ¼ cup of dried lemon peel
• 2 tbsp of green tea
• 2 tbsp of poppy seeds
• 6 more cups of filtered water

Pictured: Straining Lemon Peel with a Fine Mesh Strainer and Pestle – Thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs for providing the organic products to make this recipe!

Instructions

• First, bring the sugar, 2 cups of water, and dried lemon peel to a boil. Simmer at a low boil for 10 minutes.
• Then strain into an 8-cup sized pitcher, using a fine mesh strainer and pestle.
• Add the green tea, poppy seeds, and 6 more cups of water, and cover with a lid.
• Cold brew for 8 hours. Strain and drink.

Pictured: Citrus Ginger Cold Brew Tea – Thanks to Mountain Rose Herbs for providing the organic products to make this recipe!

Citrus Ginger Cold Brew Tea

I like to pair a green tea with ginger, and the splash of orange juice with some lemon peel makes this cold brew lightly refreshing. I prefer to use fresh squeezed oranges, because the flavor is more vivid.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of filtered water
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 Tbsp of dried lemon peel
• 2 cups of orange juice
• 3 1/2 cups of filtered water
• 2 Tbsp of green tea
• 2 Tbsp of dried ginger

Instructions

• First, bring the 2 cups of water, sugar, and lemon peel, to a gentle boil. Then, simmer on low for 10 minutes.
• Strain and pour into an 8-cup sized pitcher.
• Next, add the orange juice, green tea, dried ginger, and more water.
• Mix well. Then steep 8 hours.
• Strain and drink.

In Summary…

Cold brewed teas can taste amazing. Bye-bye bitterness and hello refreshing nutrients. Stick a jarful in the fridge in the evening, then strain and drink the next day. So worth it!