With this sweltering heat wave, we’re craving large, frosty pitchers of refreshing iced tea to help beat the heat. But how to make the perfect iced tea? Well, don't worry, we've done the research for you. There are several different methods for making iced tea, including cold brew, ambient brew, or hot brew over ice. For the first two methods, use 4 tablespoons of loose leaf tea per quart of water.
Cold brew: Allow the tea infuse slowly in the fridge for at least four hours, or overnight. Strain and serve over ice.
Ambient brew: This is our preferred method for fragrant green teas. Submerge tea in room-temperature water and allow to infuse for 20-40 minutes. Strain and refrigerate. Serve over ice.
Hot brew: Steep 4 tablespoons tea in 2 cups hot water for about 5 minutes, then strain the hot concentrate over 2 cups of ice. Allow to sit until cool then serve over more ice. This is an ideal preparation method for black and oolong teas, and produces a full-bodied iced tea while keeping bitterness in check.
Our new teas from La Via del Té are carefully selected and blended by hand in Florence, Italy, and are delicious both hot and cold. Shop here, and if you’re not sure which tea to order first, try one of the sample boxes.