How to make iced tea: our proper easy recipe
We do love a nice, hot cup of tea here in the UK – and once upon a time, iced tea was seen as a little strange. But times are changing, and the refreshing charms of an ice-cold glass of tea are becoming more and more popular.
You might have heard that you can now enjoy Yorkshire Tea Iced YT at cafés around the UK, but if you’re staying home today, here’s how we’d recommend making one for yourself. Created by our Tea Innovation Manager, Kate Halloran, it’s incredibly simple to make. You just need a few tea bags, some hot water and a little bit of time.
You can make it with Original Yorkshire Tea bags or Yorkshire Tea Decaf, and it’s perfect for a group or to keep one person topped up all day.
What is iced tea
It’s pretty simple really! It’s a way of brewing tea so that it tastes lovely served chilled – and ideally over ice. A refreshing summer drink that perks you up without warming you up.
Choosing the right tea for iced tea
You can make iced tea with any tea, but we reckon it’s best to aim for something that’s not super high in tannins, as those can be extra noticeable when you’re drinking it cold. That’s why we go for Original Yorkshire Tea or Yorkshire Tea Decaf.
Our method uses tea bags, to make it as easy as possible. You can use loose leaf if you like – but because this recipe uses quite a lot of tea, you may need a larger-than-usual infuser or a fine-mesh strainer.
Know someone who needs to brush up on their tea-brewing skills? We can teach you how to make the perfect brew, or why not branch out and check out our masala chai tea recipe?
Ingredients
• 8 tea bags (or 25g loose tea)
• 1 litre boiling water
• 4 teaspoons of sugar
• Lots of ice cubes
• Lemon or orange slices to serve
Brewing tip
Kate says: “To make iced tea, brew stronger but not for longer. So, use twice as many teabags as you would usually for the amount of water, but only brew for 4-5 minutes max”
Making iced tea at home step by step
Prep the water
Boil the water and pour it into a container (like a big teapot or heatproof jug) Prep the water
Brew the tea
Add the tea bags and brew for 4-5 minutes. Squeeze the tea bags once and remove.
Add sugar (optional)
If you’ve having sugar, stir it in.
Pour over ice
Half-fill a 2-litre jug with ice then add the hot tea. The ice will cool the extra strong tea, melting and diluting it to the perfect drinking strength.
Garnish and enjoy
Add lemon or orange slices if you’re feeling fancy.
Serve
Enjoy as it is or over more ice. Feel free to add a cocktail umbrella, a sugar rim or some extra flavours – like fresh mint, more fruit slices or even your favourite tipple (if it’s after work)!
Mistakes to avoid
Don’t brew for too long
Bitterness is easier to taste in cold drinks, so keep the brew time under 5 mins.
Skip the Yorkshire Gold
There’s more Assam in Gold, which means more tannins and more bitterness. It’s lovely when hot, but it can be overpowering when it’s cold.
Prep your brewing vessel first
If your teapot or heatproof jug doesn’t hold a full litre, make sure you’ve got a nice clean saucepan (that pours well) to hand.
How long does iced tea last?
This’ll be fine for 24 hours.
How to store iced tea
Keep it in the jug in the fridge.
How make iced tea for one
Halve the recipe by using 4 tea bags and 500ml of water, and pouring the brewed tea into a 1-litre jug that’s half full of ice.
We don’t recommend going any smaller (using 2 tea bags and 250ml of water), because the tea bags won’t have space to brew properly.
