Cold Brew Teas

Cold brewing infuses tea leaves slowly, using time rather than temperature to release flavors and catechins. This results in a smooth body with complex flavors.

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A pile of Ruby Oolong tea by Rishi Tea & Botanicals on a white background. Ruby Oolong hover image Ruby Oolong icon
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Ruby Oolong

from $12.75
Organic Oolong Tea
Deep | Complex | Rich
A pile of dried Moonlight Jasmine tea from Rishi Tea & Botanicals on a white background. Moonlight Jasmine hover image
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Moonlight Jasmine

from $46.20
Organic Green Tea
Rich | Sweet | Fragrant

Smooth and Sweet Cold Tea Infusions

Whether you need to cool down in the summer heat, or simply enjoy a smooth, chilled tea, these are excellent options for brewing cold. Rather than brewing hot and transferring to ice, cold brew teas are steeped with bags or loose leaf tea with room-temperature or cold water for hours at a time. The lack of heat in the process results in a gentler brewing cycle, releasing less bitter tannins into the brew, and increasing the perception of sweetness. Additionally, this brewing style is celebrated for its smooth, silky body, and crisp, fresh aroma.

How to Cold Brew Teas

Cold brewing is incredibly simple, requiring very few brewing implements and just a bit of time. We suggest brewing 2 tablespoons of tea per 8 ounces of room temperature water, and steeping for 8 to 12 hours. It can be beneficial to put the tea in a bag or sachet, so you can extract it from the cold brew rather than straining the tea into another serving vessel.

Alternatively, you can add enough hot water (165°F or hotter) to your teapot to cover your tea leaves, before filling the rest of the pot with cold water. Refrigerate your tea and let it steep for 2-4 hours before serving.

FAQs

Iced tea requires hot water to brew the tea, and ice to cool it down, resulting in higher tannin counts with a small amount of dilution from the ice. Cold brewing, conversely, has lower tannin counts and less dilution, among other flavor benefits.

If stored properly in the fridge, brewed concentrates should not spoil. After about 72 hours, however, the concentrate may begin to degrade in quality and flavor.

Due to the longer brew time and lack of dilution, this type of brewing can have more caffeine than the same tea brewed iced. Caffeine content is largely dependent on the tea used, however.

Yes, all teas can technically be brewed as a cold infusion, but the technique does not work as well with pure botanicals or certain botanical blends. The teas in this category are all very well suited to a cold brew process.

Explore More Chilled Teas

Brewed with heat and poured over ice, iced teas are a quick and easy way to drink cold tea. Slightly more tannic, but packing a punch, Rishi Tea & Botanicals has a wide variety of selections to make your next tea time special! We also offer powdered tea infusions and tea concentrates to bring your chilled teas on the go, where your taste may take you.