Cold brew green tea is a modern tea lover’s delight – a simple brewing method that delivers a smooth, naturally sweet iced green tea without any bitterness. Instead of using hot water, we steep green tea leaves in cold water over several hours. This slow extraction draws out the delicate flavors and sweetness of the tea, avoiding the harsh tannins that can make hot-brewed tea bitter. The result is a refreshing iced green tea that’s mellow, aromatic, and so flavorful that you won’t need to add sugar. If you’re passionate about tea and want a fuss-free way to enjoy it cold, cold brewing is the perfect technique to explore.
Brewing cold brew green tea is incredibly simple. The key factors to get right are the tea-to-water ratio and the steeping time. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Gather Your Ingredients and Equipment:
- Tea: Choose a good quality loose leaf green tea. Japanese green teas like sencha or gyokuro are excellent choices, but you can use others (even green tea bags in a pinch). For a one-quart (1 liter) batch, measure out about 1½–2 tablespoons (15 grams) of tea leaves. This amount can be adjusted to taste (use a bit more for a stronger brew or if your tea is very large leaf).
- Water: Use fresh, cold filtered water for the best taste. Since the tea is never heated, water quality matters.
- Brewing Vessel: A glass pitcher, mason jar, or cold brew tea bottle. Ensure it’s clean and has a lid. (If using a jar, you can later strain the leaves with a fine mesh sieve.)
2. Combine Tea and Water:
Place the tea leaves into your pitcher or jar. Pour the cold water over the leaves, filling the container. There’s no need to stir or shake yet – the water will start to gently extract the flavor. Make sure all the tea leaves are submerged. For convenience, some people use a cold brew bottle with a built-in filter, but it’s not required. If you’re using tea bags, the ratio is typically one tea bag per cup of water (adjust if your bags contain less tea; many Japanese cold brew bags are larger).
3. Steep in the Refrigerator:
Cover the jar or pitcher and refrigerate it. Allow the tea to steep for 6–8 hours (or overnight) for optimum extraction. This long, slow steep is what coaxes out the sweet and mellow flavors. You can brew it in the daytime and it will be ready for evening, or prepare it before bed to have chilled green tea the next day. Don’t worry – extended cold steeping won’t turn the tea bitter. In fact, you could steep it a few hours longer with no issue, but around 8 hours tends to be ideal for rich flavor.
4. Taste Test and Adjust (Optional):
If you’re curious, you can taste the tea at the halfway point (after 3–4 hours) to gauge its strength. Some delicate Japanese greens might be sufficiently brewed by then, whereas others benefit from more time. The beauty of cold brew is its flexibility – a longer steep won’t ruin the tea, so there’s no strict time to pull the leaves out. If it seems light, just let it continue steeping until it’s flavorful enough for you.
5. Strain and Serve:
Once steeping is complete, remove the tea leaves. If you used a pitcher with an infuser or tea bags, simply lift those out. If the leaves were loose in a jar, pour the tea through a fine strainer into another container or serving pitcher. You’ll be left with a crystal-clear green tea. Serve it over ice in glasses. You can enjoy it plain to appreciate the tea’s natural sweetness. It’s already pleasantly smooth, but you can add a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint for an extra refreshing twist if desired.
6. Storage:
Cold brew green tea is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store the strained tea in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days. Keep it covered to avoid absorbing fridge odors. It’s great to make a big batch and pour yourself a glass whenever you need a cool, hydrating drink.