How to Make Iced Tea with Loose Leaf Tea

Iced tea is one of the easiest ways to enjoy loose leaf tea in warm weather. It’s refreshing, naturally flavorful, and simple to make at home without relying on bottled drinks, mixes, or pre-sweetened teas.

The good news is that nearly any loose leaf tea can be served iced. June is National Iced Tea Month, which makes it the perfect time to learn how easy it is to make iced tea with loose leaf tea.

One of the benefits of making iced tea from loose leaf tea (instead of tea bags) at home is that you can control the strength, sweetness, and ingredients. Whether you like a classic black iced tea, a bright hibiscus herbal tea, or a refreshing green tea over ice, the basic process is simple.

The Easiest Way to Make Iced Tea with Loose Leaf Tea

The easiest way to make iced tea with loose leaf tea is to brew the tea hot using about 1.5 to 2 times the amount of tea you would normally use, then pour it over ice to chill and dilute. (See this post for a quick guide on how to brew loose leaf tea).

This gives you a stronger hot tea at first, but once the ice melts, the flavor balances out. If you brew the tea at normal strength and then pour it over ice, the finished iced tea may taste weak or watery.

For a smoother, less bitter iced tea, you can also make cold brew tea by steeping loose leaf tea in cold water in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

Iced Tea vs. Cold Brew Tea

In this guide, “iced tea” means tea that is brewed hot and then chilled over ice.

Cold brew tea is different. Instead of using hot water, cold brew tea is made by steeping tea leaves in cold water for several hours, usually in the refrigerator. You can read more about the difference between iced tea and cold brew tea in this post.

Both methods work well, but they create slightly different results:

• Iced tea is faster and gives you a more classic brewed-tea flavor.

• Cold brew tea is slower, but it often tastes smoother, less bitter, and more delicate.

If you want iced tea quickly, brew it hot and pour it over ice. If you want a very smooth tea with less bitterness, cold brew is a great option.

Iced Tea Cheat Sheet

Use these amounts as a starting point. You can always adjust based on your taste and the specific tea you’re using.

Black Tea

Amount: 3–4 grams per cup / 12–16 grams per quart
Water temperature: Boiling water
Steep time: 5–8 minutes

Black tea makes a classic iced tea. Because black tea can become bitter if over-steeped, start with the lower end of the steeping time and adjust from there.

Green Tea

Amount: 3–4 grams per cup / 12–16 grams per quart
Water temperature: Just under boiling, around 190–195°F
Steep time: 4–6 minutes

Green tea can be very refreshing iced, especially with mint, lemon, or a little honey. Avoid boiling water if you want a smoother cup.

Herbal Tea

Amount: 4–5 grams per cup / 16–20 grams per quart
Water temperature: Boiling water
Steep time: 6–10 minutes

Herbal teas are especially easy to make iced because they can usually be brewed strong without becoming bitter. Hibiscus, mint, lavender, chamomile, citrus, and berry-forward blends all work beautifully over ice.

How to Make Iced Tea with Loose Leaf Tea

Making iced tea with loose leaf tea is simple, but a few small details can make a big difference.

1. Measure the Tea

Weighing your loose leaf tea is the most accurate way to measure it, especially when making a larger batch.

Different teas have different densities. A teaspoon of one tea might weigh the same as a tablespoon of another. This matters even more when you are making a full pitcher of iced tea.

Too much tea can make the finished drink too strong or bitter. Too little tea can make it taste weak after the ice melts.

If you do not have a scale, you can still use teaspoons or tablespoons as a rough guide, but weighing the tea will give you the most consistent results.

2. Brew the Tea Stronger Than Usual

Because the tea will be poured over ice, it needs to start stronger than a regular hot cup of tea.

A good rule of thumb is to use about 1.5 to 2 times as much loose leaf tea as you normally would. As the ice melts, it dilutes the tea and brings it back into balance.

For herbal teas, you can also steep a little longer to create a stronger infusion. Herbal teas usually do not become bitter in the same way that black or green teas can.

For black, green, white, and oolong teas, be more careful with steeping time. Using more tea is usually better than steeping for too long, since over-steeping can bring out bitterness.

3. Avoid Brewing Hot Tea in Plastic

As a general rule, I avoid brewing hot tea directly in plastic containers. Heat increases the risk of microplastics or chemical compounds ending up in the drink, so glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or an enamel-lined pot are better choices for hot brewing.

When I’m making a big batch of iced tea, I like to put the loose leaf tea in a large pot, pour the hot water over it, and let it steep. Once it has steeped long enough, I strain the tea into another container filled with ice.

If you want to be extra cautious, you can strain the hot tea into another metal or glass container first, let it cool slightly, and then transfer it to a pitcher.

4. Sweeten While Hot

If you want to add a little honey or sugar to your iced tea, it will mix in easier if you add it before cooling the tea. You’ll want to strain the tea first, add the sweetener, and then pour over ice before enjoying. Honey in particular is difficult to dissolve in cold liquid, so I definitely recommend using this method if you are using honey (or, to a lesser extent, agave syrup).

5. Pour the Hot Tea Over Ice

When cooling hot tea quickly, pour the tea over ice instead of dropping a large amount of ice into hot tea.

Adding ice directly into a pot or pitcher of hot tea can cause splashing, which can be messy and may risk burns. Pouring the hot tea over ice gives you more control and helps chill the tea quickly.

Fill your serving pitcher or container with ice, then slowly pour the strained hot tea over the ice. Stir, taste, and add more ice or cold water if needed.

Which Teas Make the Best Iced Tea?

Herbal teas are often the easiest place to start because they can usually be brewed strong without becoming bitter. I often serve iced Sunrise on the Hudson (a hibiscus blend with orange and ginger) during the summer, and it’s always a crowd pleaser.

That said, almost any loose leaf tea can be made into iced tea.

Black teas make a classic, full-bodied iced tea. Using a good quality loose leaf tea rather than standard grocery store tea bags will instantly elevate your iced tea (and believe me, people will notice!). Green teas can taste especially refreshing when chilled and oolong teas can bring out soft floral or fruity notes over ice. White teas can make a delicate iced tea, though they are usually best when brewed gently (ideally cold-brewed) and not overpowered with too much ice.

If you are new to making iced tea at home, start with a tea you already enjoy hot. Chances are, you’ll enjoy it iced too.

Why Does Iced Tea Get Cloudy?

Some teas, especially black teas, may become cloudy when chilled. This does not mean the tea has gone bad, and it usually does not affect the flavor.

Cloudiness happens when certain compounds in the tea fall out of solution as the hot tea cools. Commercial iced teas (like bottled iced tea or iced tea powders) are made from specific varieties of tea selected specifically to stay clear when chilled. This is why homemade iced tea can sometimes look different from the crystal clear tea we’re used to in the United States.

If clear iced tea matters to you, try cold brewing instead. Cold brew tea is less likely to become cloudy because the tea is never exposed to hot water.

When to Choose Cold Brew Tea Instead

Cold brew tea is a great option when you want a smoother, softer iced tea.

To cold brew tea, simply cover the loose leaf tea with cold water and leave it in the refrigerator overnight, or for several hours. Then strain out the leaves and serve chilled as-is or over ice.

Cold brewing can help reduce bitterness, prevent cloudiness in black teas, and bring out more delicate floral or naturally sweet notes. It may also result in a somewhat lower caffeine level than hot-brewed tea, depending on the tea and steeping time.

If you want to compare the two methods in more detail, read my earlier post on cold brew tea vs. iced tea.

Simple Loose Leaf Iced Tea Recipes

Classic Black Iced Tea

Use a bold black tea for a classic iced tea flavor.

For one quart:

• 12–16 grams black tea

• 2 cups boiling water

• 2 cups ice

Steep the tea in boiling water for 5–8 minutes. Strain, then pour the hot tea over ice. Stir and chill before serving.

Optional: serve with lemon, fresh mint, or a small amount of honey or simple syrup.

Arnold Palmer

This drink, named after the famous golfer, is a mixture of unsweetened black iced tea and lemonade. The most commonly-served version a 1:1 mix of tea and lemonade. However, the “original” version favored by Palmer himself was 3 parts unsweetened tea to 1 part lemonade.

Hibiscus Herbal Iced Tea

Hibiscus makes a bright, tart, ruby-colored iced tea that is naturally caffeine-free. I prefer a blend rather than straight hibiscus, which can be too tart for many people.

For one quart:

• 16–20 grams dried hibiscus tea or a hibiscus-based blend

• 2 cups boiling water

• 2 cups ice

Steep the herbal tea for 6–10 minutes. Strain, then pour over ice.

Optional: add orange slices, lemon, fresh mint, or a little honey.

Moroccan-Style Mint Iced Tea

Moroccan mint tea is traditionally made with a strong green tea (usually gunpowder green tea) that is boiled together with fresh mint and lots of sugar. This is a simplified version designed to be served iced.

For two quarts:

• 16–20 grams gunpowder green tea

• 4 cups boiling water

• 1 large bunch of fresh mint leaves

• 1/3 cup of sugar (or to taste)

• 4 cups ice

• Mint sprigs for garnish

Steep the tea for 4 minutes. Add the mint and sugar and continue steeping, covered, for an additional 4 - 5 minutes. Strain, then pour over ice and serve with ice and a sprig of mint in each cup.

Lavender Lemon Spritzer

This recipe uses our own Lavender Fields herbal tea blend. The lemon verbena in the blend complements the added lemon nicely. For this recipe, I like to make the tea a bit more concentrated since seltzer water will be added at the end.

For two large glasses:

• 16 grams (about 1/3 cup) Lavender Fields loose leaf tea

• 1 cup boiling water

• Lemon slices

• Seltzer water

• Ice as needed

Steep for 6–10 minutes. Strain the tea over 1 cup of ice to cool it (yielding about 2 cups of tea total). Fill two tall glasses about half full with ice and fill about 2/3 of the way with the cooled tea. Top with seltzer water or club soda. Squeeze in 1 - 2 slices of lemon and leave the lemon slices in the cup. Stir gently before serving.

Optional: add honey or other sweetener to the hot tea before cooling. You can also add a sprig of fresh herbs, such as mint or rosemary.

Quick Recap

To make iced tea with loose leaf tea:

• Use about 1.5 to 2 times as much tea as you would for a regular hot cup.

• Brew the tea hot, then pour it over ice to chill and dilute.

• Weigh your tea when making a large batch for the most consistent results.

• Avoid brewing hot tea directly in plastic.

• Choose herbal teas if you want an easy, naturally caffeine-free iced tea.

• Try cold brewing if you want a smoother tea with less bitterness or less cloudiness.

Once you know the basic method, iced tea is easy to customize. Start with a tea you already love, brew it a little stronger, pour it over ice, and adjust from there.