• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Momma Fit Lyndsey

  • Summer
    • Salads
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

search recipes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer
    • Salads
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Summer
      • Salads
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Momma Fit Lyndsey » Recipes » Summer

    How to Make Cold Brew Iced Tea at Home

    Published: Apr 10, 2023 by Lyndsey · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Share
    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade cold brew iced tea is a simple and refreshing drink perfect for summer. Made with green or black tea bags and just a few more ingredients, it's easy to customize to your taste. Learn how to make your own with our easy-to-follow recipe.

    2 glasses of cold brew iced tea with lemons with a dispenser behind.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Taste
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • Best Sugar-Free Sweetener for Iced Tea
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQS
    • Related Recipes
    • Homemade Cold Brew Iced Tea

    Are you a fan of iced tea? If so, you'll definitely want to try making your own homemade cold brew iced tea.

    Not only is it a refreshing and delicious drink for hot summer days, but it's also incredibly easy to make. All you need is some tea bags or loose-leaf, water, and a bit of patience.

    In this blog post, we'll show you how to make the perfect summer drink at home, so you can enjoy this tasty beverage anytime you want.

    If you like this recipe, be sure to try our iced matcha latte or our strawberry puree for drinks!

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • Easy to make with just a few simple ingredients!
    • Much cheaper than buying store-bought concentrate!
    • Makes a ton - great for summer BBQs or parties.
    • Customizable - make it using green, black, or your favorite.
    • No iced tea maker is needed!
    • A safer alternative to sun tea.
    • A healthy alternative to sugary beverages and sodas.

    Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.

    labeled ingredient photo of this recipe on a white background.

    You will need a large glass container with a lid and beverage spout.

    I purchased this container at IKEA, however, you can generally find these beverage dispensers on Amazon or at Walmart.

    I like to make cold-brew iced tea using green and black teas for a variety of flavors. You can use any brand you find at home like Lipton, Celestial, or your favorite brand.

    Earl Grey, green, herbal or fruit, or even matcha tea bags all provide great taste.

    Lemon provides a citrus flavor that is common in cold brew iced tea. You can also infuse flavors into the recipe with other fruit like raspberry.

    Taste

    It has a clean and smooth finish that is light, crisp, and refreshing!

    It is more mellow and mild than traditional tea.

    This cold-brewed version is less bitter than when made with boiling water.

    How to Make This Recipe

    This is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cook time and temperatures.

    Step 1

    large glass beverage dispenser filled with water, lemons, and tea bags on a white background.

    Fill a large glass jar with cold water.

    Step 2

    top down shot of tea bags and lemons submerged in water.

    Add sliced lemons and bags to the jar.

    Step 3

    close up shot of lid covering beverage dispenser.

    Cover the jar and refrigerate for 6-12 hours.

    Step 4

    view of used tea bags and lemons after 12 hour refrigeration.

    Remove tea bags and lemons and discard. Serve over ice and sweeten as desired.

    Best Sugar-Free Sweetener for Iced Tea

    Although you can use sugar or simple syrup to sweeten iced tea, I like to opt for no-sugar sweeteners.

    Liquid stevia or monk fruit sweetener is the easiest no-calorie no sugar sweetener to use to sweeten it.

    You can also use powdered stevia, monk fruit, or Truvia.

    Expert Tips

    If you like a more concentrated flavor, use more tea bags for a stronger flavor.

    Serve alongside any of your favorite summer meals like pasta salad, burgers, or grilled chicken.

    Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

    Recipe FAQS

    Can iced tea be cold brewed?

    Yes, with this simple recipe and overnight refrigeration, you can make it homemade with a few simple ingredients.

    Can you cold brew tea with regular tea bags?

    Yes. I use a mix of black and green that I have on hand.

    What is the difference between cold-brewed iced tea and iced tea?

    Iced tea is made using hot water while cold-brewed iced tea is brewed cold over a longer period of time.

    Generally cold brewed teas and coffee have a mild, more "mellow" flavor which many people enjoy.

    What is the ratio of tea to water for cold brew iced tea?

    Generally, one bag per cup of water for a medium-brewed iced tea. To make a stronger flavor, increase the amount of bags or reduce the water.

    How many bags you use for cold brewed iced tea will depend on your taste preferences. If you are used to more a concentrated flavor, you will need to add more bags per cup of water.

    What is the best tea for making homemade cold brew iced tea?

    Although this largely depends on taste, I enjoy mixing green, black, and herbal teas to make this recipe at home.

    I especially like bolder black teas like Earl Grey to add even more flavor.

    Can I make this with loose-leaf?

    Yes. You will need a cheesecloth to hold the loose-leaf tea for overnight refrigeration.

    Generally, you will need one teaspoon of loose-leaf for each cup of water according to Twinings.

    How long does iced tea last?

    One week in the refrigerator.

    Related Recipes

    • iced matcha latte with oat milk.
      Iced Matcha Latte Recipe
    • close up shot of strawberry puree in a jar with strawberries behind on a white background.
      How to Make Strawberry Puree (Fresh or Frozen)
    • featured image for this collection of recipes.
      25 Easy & Light Summer Dinner Ideas
    • close up of turkey burger on a bun with lettuce and tomato with top bun offset.
      Best Healthy Turkey Burgers with Zucchini (No Egg)

    If you've made this recipe, would you please leave a star rating and comment below on the recipe card? If you would like more simple + delicious eats please subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for the latest updates.

    close up of cold brew iced tea with lemons in two glasses with a dispenser behind.
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Homemade Cold Brew Iced Tea

    Learn how to make delicious homemade cold brew iced tea using green or black tea with our simple recipe. Perfect for hot summer days, refreshing, and easy to make!
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 2 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 1 minute minute
    Refrigeration 12 hours hours
    Total Time 12 hours hours 3 minutes minutes
    Servings 2 gallons
    Calories 1kcal
    Author Lyndsey

    Equipment

    • 1 2-gallon glass beverage dispenser

    Ingredients

    • 2 gallons water
    • 36 tea bags more for stronger flavor
    • 12 slices lemon

    Instructions

    • Fill a large container with 2 gallons of water.
      2 gallons water
    • Place lemon slices and tea bags into the large container and cover.
      36 tea bags, 12 slices lemon
    • Refrigerate for 12 hours and then serve over ice.

    Notes

    If you like a more concentrated flavor, use more tea bags for a stronger flavor.
    Store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
    Drink unsweetened or sweeten using liquid stevia, monk fruit sweetener, or your sweetener of choice.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1glass | Calories: 1kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @MommaFitLyndsey or tag #mommafitlyndsey!

    More Summer Recipes

    • featured image close up of spinach and orzo salad.
      Pesto Orzo Salad with Spinach
    • featured image close-up of tortellini pesto salad with tomatoes and basil.
      Cold Pesto Tortellini Salad
    • close up shot of mango pico de gallo.
      Best Mango Pico de Gallo (No Jalapeños)
    • close up shot of blackberry cobbler with ice cream in a white bowl topped with mint.
      Gluten-Free Blackberry Cobbler with Almond Flour

    About Lyndsey

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shelby Beard

      July 29, 2019 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      Can you tell me how much stevia and water for a gallon of tea...also with the family size tea bags

      Reply
      • mommafitpgh@gmail.com

        August 05, 2019 at 10:53 am

        This recipe is for 2 cups and there are about 16 cups in a gallon so I would try multiplying by 8 to get a gallon measurement. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    2. Mary Ann

      May 22, 2019 at 9:23 pm

      5 stars
      I love slenda natural stevia!! My go yo for everything. 😊

      Reply
      • mommafitpgh@gmail.com

        May 23, 2019 at 5:10 pm

        I love it too! My favorite stevia I've had so far.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    headshot of Momma Fit Lyndsey

    Hi I'm Lyndsey! As a mom of two picky eaters, I know how hard it can be to feed your family nutritious meals! I love to create and cook healthy meals that my family actually loves to eat. These recipes are for you to feed your family food they love too!

    More about me →

    banner of featured in resources

    Summer Recipes

    • close up shot of southwest chicken bowl topped with cilantro and avocado.
      10-Minute Healthy Southwest Chicken Bowl
    • close up of smoked chicken slices.
      Traeger Pellet Grill Smoked Chicken Breast
    • featured image showing close up on strawberry goat cheese salad.
      Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad with Spinach and Walnuts
    • close up shot of peach cobbler in a dish.
      Easy Peach Cobbler Using Cake Mix (3 Ingredients)
    • close up shot of pellet grill pork tenderloin medallions with rosemary on parchment.
      Pellet Grill Pork Tenderloin (Traeger Grilled)
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Marinated Air Fryer Greek Yogurt Chicken

    Popular Posts

    • featured image for this recipe.
      Aldi Charcuterie Board
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Protein Blueberry Muffins
    • air fryer argentine red shrimp close up on a plate.
      10 Minute Argentine Red Shrimp in the Air Fryer
    • Air Fryer Sweet Potato

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me
    • Disclosures
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Collaborations

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Mommy Fit Lyndsey