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Nothing beats homemade iced tea on a hot summer day. The blend of tea, fruity and spicy flavors, and a touch of sweetness makes it the perfect addition to any barbecue, pool day, or cozy summer evening. Here are three fantastic recipes and tips to ensure your iced tea turns out perfectly.
Tips for Making Your Own Iced Tea
Homemade iced tea doesn't require much expertise or special equipment. Instead of brewing "regular" tea, we recommend making tea concentrates. This concentrated tea will highlight the delicate flavors even when cold. Use the amount of loose tea for 1 liter but brew it with only 500 ml of water. After steeping, pour the concentrate over ice cubes to quickly chill it and preserve the intense flavors. If you want to try another method for cold tea preparation, give Cold Brew Tea a try! We explain the differences between these refreshing tea infusions in our magazine.
Which Teas Are Best for Iced Tea?
Black tea is a classic choice, but green tea, herbal tea, and spiced tea also work wonderfully and offer various flavor experiences. Green tea tastes fresh and light, while black tea has sweet and malty notes. For a naturally caffeine-free option, you can use any herbal, fruit, or spiced tea.
The Right Steeping Time & Temperature: Get the Best Out of Your Tea
For iced tea made with green tea, brew the tea at no more than 80°C and steep for a maximum of 5 minutes to retain its fresh, grassy, and sweet notes when cold. For fruit and herbal tea, we recommend using boiling water and steeping for 5-10 minutes to bring out their unique flavors when cold. Black tea should be brewed with water at 90-95°C and steeped for no more than 5 minutes to prevent bitterness. By paying attention to the optimal steeping time and temperature, you can enjoy delicious iced tea every time!
Creative Iced Tea Recipes for Every Taste
Feel free to get creative with your iced tea. Here are some recipes to help you make this popular summer drink yourself:
Lemon Iced Tea: Make the Classic at Home
- Preparation Time: 15 minutes
- Cooling Time: 1-2 hours
You will need:
- 10g loose black tea, such as our sweet-malting Assam tea NANDANA
- 500 ml hot water
- 2 Lemons
- Sweetener of Choice
- Ice Cubes
- Fresh mint for serving
Preparation step-by-step:
- Brew 500 ml of black tea and steep according to the package instructions.
- Add your preferred sweetener and at least 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- For a more intense lemon flavor, add at least 4 tablespoons.
- Pour the concentrated black tea over the ice cubes and let it cool in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
- Serve the iced tea with lemon slices and fresh mint.
Fruity Green Tea Iced Tea with Mango
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooling Time: 1-2 hours
You will need:
- 10g loose green tea; for a special floral touch, we recommend green jasmine tea, like our IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE.
- 500 ml warm water, about 70°C
- Sweetener of choice
- 150g mango puree (available in Asian supermarkets)
- Ice cubes
- Fresh mint for serving
Preparation step-by-step:
- Brew 500 ml of green jasmine tea and steep according to the package instructions.
- Add the mango puree and, if desired, your choice of sweetener.
- Pour the concentrated green tea over the ice cubes and let it cool in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
- Serve the iced tea over ice with fresh mint.
Exotic Herbal & Spice Iced Tea
This classic drink can also be caffeine-free. Simply use your favorite herbal and spiced tea blends.
Preparation Time: 15 Min
Cooling Time: 1-2 Hours
You will need:
- 10g loose herbal and spiced tea; we recommend our caffeine-free DEEP ASANA with ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and aromatic licorice root.
- 500 ml boiling water
- Sweetener of choice
- Ice cubes
- Fresh herbs and whole spices for serving
Preparation step-by-step:
- Brew 500 ml of your chosen herbal and spiced tea and steep according to the package instructions.
- Add, if desired, your choice of sweetener.
- Pour the brew over the ice cubes and let the mixture cool in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.
- Serve the iced tea over ice with fresh herbs like peppermint or lemon balm and whole dried spices like cinnamon sticks or star anise.
Fun Facts About Iced Tea: Did You Know...?
Iced tea comes in countless flavors and is enjoyed worldwide. Did you know that the creation of this refreshing drink was purely accidental?
The Origin of Iced Tea: A Happy Accident Became a Summer Hit
Legend has it, in 1904 a tea merchant at a World's Fair in the southern United States wanted to popularize black tea, which had not yet gained traction in the US. However, due to the hot summer weather, visitors were not interested in drinking hot tea. The inventive tea merchant added ice cubes to the black tea—a spontaneous idea that was immediately well received. From that moment on, iced tea's popularity soared.
Already Tried? Our Organic Iced Teas - Your Perfect Summer Drink
Homemade iced tea is easy to make, giving you a fresh and tasty drink in no time. PAPER & TEA's iced teas offer five creative flavor combinations and trends for you to try:
- Green tea meets fruity mango and bergamot oil in our popular WONDERFUL SHORT NIGHTS.
- FANCY TAN LINE is a fruity black tea blend with notes of pineapple and coconut.
- SUMMER LOVE AFFAIR combines various citrus fruits with mild-sweet black tea.
- PERFECT SUNDOWNER is a caffeine-free option featuring a fruity-tart mix of hibiscus, fresh mint, and aromatic elderflower.
- SANDY FEET JOY brings together exotic mate tea with fruity apple, peach flavor, and pleasantly tart hibiscus.
Organic & Sustainable with PAPER & TEA Iced Tea
All the organic teas in our iced tea collection enchant you with the full flavor of carefully selected tea leaves, fruits, and herbs. So, if you're in a hurry and don't have time to mix your own iced tea, you can easily prepare one of our iced teas and enjoy a refreshing summer drink in minutes. Find more delicious and creative mocktail recipes with our in-house tea blends in our magazine.
