Iced Tea for an Aussie Summer: 5 Easy Ways

In short: the easiest iced tea for an Aussie summer is cold brew: put 10-12 g of loose leaf tea in 1 litre of cold water, refrigerate for 6 to 12 hours, strain and pour over ice. For iced tea in a hurry, brew a double-strength pot with hot water and pour it straight over a glass full of ice. Fruit blends and hibiscus need no sugar at all, and black tea makes the classic lemon iced tea.

When the thermometer climbs past 35°C, a hot cuppa loses some of its appeal. Iced tea fills the gap: it is cheap to make in a big jug, it suits a barbie or a day at the beach, and it is far more interesting than another bottle of cordial. Here are five ways to make it with loose leaf tea, plus the ratios that keep it tasting fresh rather than flat.

Cold brew vs hot brew: which method?

There are two basic ways to make iced tea, and both have their place in summer.

Cold brew is the most forgiving. Because the leaves never meet hot water, they release fewer of the compounds that make tea taste bitter, so you can forget the jug overnight and it will still be smooth. The flash-chill method is best when friends turn up unannounced.

1. Classic lemon iced tea

A brisk black tea is the base of the iced tea most Australians grew up with, minus the bottled syrup.

1. Steep 10 g (about 4 teaspoons) of black tea in 500 ml of water at 95-100°C for 4 minutes.
2. Strain, stir in a little honey or sugar while hot if you like it sweet.
3. Pour over 500 g of ice in a large jug, add lemon slices and a few mint leaves.

A clean, bright leaf such as Orange Pekoe Ceylon stays clear and does not turn cloudy as quickly as stronger, malty teas. Find more choices in our black tea range.

2. Overnight fruit cold brew

Fruit blends were made for summer. They are naturally caffeine-free, colourful and sweet enough to drink without sugar, which makes them a hit with kids too.

• Use 12 g of a fruit blend per litre of cold water.
• Leave in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours, then strain.
• Serve with frozen berries instead of ice cubes, so the drink does not water down.

Cold Brew Watermelon Lime is designed for exactly this and tastes like a summer afternoon. Our cold brew tea collection has more blends made for cold water.

3. Citrus green iced tea

Green tea makes a lighter, grassier iced tea. Brew it cooler than black tea, at 75-80°C for 2 minutes, using 8 g per 500 ml, then pour over ice and add a squeeze of lime. Or cold brew it with 8 g per litre for 6 hours. Do not leave green tea in cold water much longer than 8 hours, or it can turn vegetal.

4. Lemon refresher for the esky

For a picnic or a day at the cricket, make a big batch the night before. Cold brew 30 g of Cold Brew Lemon Refresher in 2.5 litres of water, strain it in the morning and pour it into frozen bottles. They thaw slowly in the esky and keep everything else cold too.

5. Sparkling iced tea for Christmas lunch

A summer Christmas calls for something festive that is not too heavy. Cold brew a fruit or hibiscus blend at double strength (24 g per litre), strain and fill glasses halfway. Top up with chilled sparkling water, add a few pomegranate seeds or a sprig of rosemary, and you have an alcohol-free spritz that looks as good as it tastes. More ideas are in our iced tea collection.

Tips for better iced tea

• Use filtered water if your tap water tastes of chlorine; it shows more in cold drinks.
• Make tea ice cubes from leftover tea so your glass never goes weak.
• Keep it cold: store iced tea covered in the fridge and drink it within 2 to 3 days.
• Sweeten while warm: sugar and honey dissolve far better before the tea is chilled. For cold brew, use a little sugar syrup.
• Cloudy tea? Hot black tea chilled too fast can go cloudy. It is harmless, but cold brew avoids it completely.

Frequently asked questions

How much loose leaf tea do I use for iced tea?

For cold brew, use 10-12 g per litre of cold water. For hot-brewed tea poured over ice, double your usual amount, about 10 g per 500 ml, because the ice dilutes it.

How long should cold brew tea steep in the fridge?

Fruit and herbal blends need 8 to 12 hours, black tea 8 to 10 hours and green tea 6 to 8 hours. Strain the leaves out once it tastes right.

Can I make iced tea without sugar?

Yes. Fruit blends, hibiscus and cold-brewed green or black tea taste naturally sweeter than hot-brewed tea, so most people find they do not need any sugar.

Is it safe to make sun tea?

We do not recommend it. Water sitting at warm temperatures for hours is not ideal, and cold brewing in the fridge gives a smoother result anyway.