Iced Tea V Cold Brew… Top 5 Cold Brew Teas

Iced Tea v Cold Brew? What is the difference….

Temperature makes a huge difference to your brew, even in tea served cold. Over the warmer summer months we often find ourselves drinking cold brews and iced teas but did you know how it is prepared can have a big impact on your final brew. Let’s take a look at the different methods and their pros and cons!

Methods

Cold Brew – To cold brew tea, start by selecting your favourite loose leaf tea or tea bags. Into a clean pitcher or jar. Then, add cold fresh, (preferably) filtered water, using a ratio of about 1 teaspoon or 1 teabag per 300ml of water. Pop in the fridge for at least 8 hours or overnight to allow the flavours to infuse. Once steeped, strain the tea leaves and serve the cold brew tea over ice or on it’s own. This can keep in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

Iced Tea – Brew according to the type – Black Tea 100 for 3 minutes / Green Tea 80-90 for 3 minutes /White Tea 80-90 for 3 minutes / Fruit, Herbal & Rooibos 100 for 5-7 minutes. Remove the leaves or tea bags, allow to cool to room temperature and serve over ice or refrigerate.  To flash-chill brew hot in half the amount of usual water ie. 1 teaspoon or teabag per 125ml and once strained pour directly over ice.

Iced Tea v Cold Brew

Taste Difference

When tea meets hot water the leaves are agitated and they release bitter tannins. In cold brew teas the majority of the tannins are discarded with the leaves and you’re left with a sweeter liquor, where the more subtle nuanced flavours are allowed to shine. Most of us enjoy tannins and some absolutely love the astringency & bitterness they provide so the flavour debate really comes down to personal preference. It may be that you enjoy delicate White & Green Tea cold brewed to really savour and explore the delicate flavours but prefer Fruit Teas and punchy, malty Black Teas iced – You won’t find your personal favourite until you experiment, so what ae you waiting for.

Potential Health Benefits

We think Cold brew is more beneficial on this front – Cold brew teas have been found to have higher levels of antioxidants and reduced caffeine content when contrasted with their hot brew counterparts. Due to the prolonged steeping process in cold water, which allows for a gentler extraction of flavours and beneficial compounds from the tea leaves to be released due to the extended infusion.  Additionally, the lower caffeine content in cold brew teas offers a milder brew for those with caffeine sensitivity.

Furthermore, as you achieve a sweeter & smoother final tea due to the lack of tannins you’re less likely to need a sweetener such as honey, sugar or syrup and can be happily enjoyed on its own!

Speed

Iced tea is definitely the winner here, you can also speed up the process with flash chilling and brewing to twice the concentrate to account for the ice dilution. However, we often have a rotating jug of cold brew at home. When we finish it e simply top it up in the evening ready for the next day.

Top 5 Iced Teas

These teas will de delicious from a cold and hot brew, give both a try and find your personal favourite!

• Blooming Marvellous – Flavoured Sencha green leaf is expertly blended with bright mallow and sunflower petals, exquisite rosebuds, sweet vanilla and fresh tangy fruit.
• Sea Buckthorn – The blend features 50% Scottish Sea Buck Berries mixed with dried apple pieces, hibiscus blossom, elderberries and  cranberries. Our Sea Buckthorn Blend creates a sweet yet tart flavour that has plenty of ZING!
• Titan Tonka – Greek Mountain Tea with smooth vanilla-like tonka bean, popped buckwheat with freeze dried strawberries, orange zest, fiery ginger and fennel.
• Bollywood Dreams Chai – Mix with milk, a little dissolved honey and serve over ice for an iced chai latte! Our Bollywood Dreams Chai is intense and spicy and will take your senses on a journey to the heart of Bengal.
• Lychee & Dragonfruit – This tropical fruit infusion tea is crafted with a riotous fruit medley of apple, dragon fruit and papaya with lemongrass & coconut chips.

Top 5 Cold Brews

• White Peach – Delicate Pai Mu Tan white tea is complemented by the light fruity finish of peach.
• Asamushi Sencha – Very lightly steamed Japanese Green.
• The Balanced Mind – Chinese White Tea with dark elderberries and warming cinnamon alongside herbal linden blossom, passion flower leaf and blackberry leaves.  
• Milk Oolong – Roasted Taiwan oolong With a creamy taste profile, the liquor of this tea is undoubtedly smooth with slightly sweet notes.
• Strawberries & Cream – The ultimate fruit blend,  built on a base of apple pieces, hibiscus blossoms, tangy elderberries, rose hip peel, sweet pineapple cubes and fruity strawberry pieces