Homemade iced tea: how to make a perfect infusion

As the days grow longer and the sun warms the deck, a carafe of homemade iced tea becomes the ideal refreshing stopover. Fruity, floral, herbal, or spicy, it is easy to prepare and allows you to choose each ingredient to suit your tastes.

Two paths lie before you: hot brewing, quick and expressive, or cold brewing, gentle and delicate. Here is our logbook for successfully making iced tea every time.

Which tea should you choose to make homemade iced tea?

Almost all teas and herbal infusions can be enjoyed iced. The best choice depends mainly on the desired result.

• Green tea makes a fresh, herbal, and light drink. It pairs particularly well with lemon, mint, cucumber, or peach.
• Black tea offers more body. It pairs well with citrus fruits, red fruits, and spices.
• Rooibos, naturally caffeine-free, reveals a round and sweet cup, pleasant at any time. Our Cap Rouge – Rooibos Nature makes an excellent base for an orange or vanilla recipe.
• Fruit infusions make delicious and very colorful drinks. For a carafe with the flavors of red fruits, discover Écumes des Bois.

You can also browse our fruit infusion collection to imagine your next recipe.

Method 1: iced tea by hot brewing

This method is perfect when the craving for refreshment cannot wait. It allows you to quickly obtain an aromatic drink.

For a one-liter carafe

1. Heat 250 ml of water to the temperature suitable for your tea.
2. Add about 10 to 15 g of tea or infusion.
3. Let steep for the time recommended on the product page.
4. Strain, then add 500 ml of cold water.
5. Top with ice cubes and place the carafe in the refrigerator.

To avoid bitterness, do not unnecessarily prolong the steeping of green or black tea. It is better to slightly increase the amount of leaves if you want a more intense flavor.

Method 2: cold brewing, gentle and without precipitation

Cold brewing requires a little patience, but it offers a smooth, clear, and delicately flavored cup. The aromas develop slowly in the cold water.

1. Place 10 to 15 g of tea or infusion in one liter of cold water.
2. Cover the carafe and place it in the refrigerator.
3. Let steep for 6 to 8 hours for tea, and up to 10 or 12 hours for rooibos or a fruit infusion.
4. Strain carefully before serving.

Prepare the carafe in the evening: in the morning, your iced tea will be ready to set sail for the day.

Recipe: fruity iced tea "Summer Stopover"

Here is a simple, fragrant recipe that is easy to adapt with available fruits.

Ingredients

• 15 g of fruit infusion
• 1 liter of cold water
• 1 peach or nectarine cut into quarters
• A few lemon slices
• A few mint leaves
• Ice cubes

Preparation

1. Cold steep the fruit blend for 8 to 10 hours in the refrigerator.
2. Strain the infusion.
3. Add the peach pieces, lemon slices, and mint.
4. Let rest for another 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
5. Serve with ice cubes.

Taste before sweetening: the fruits and certain infusions already provide a lovely sense of sweetness. If necessary, add a dash of agave syrup or a little honey while the infusion is still warm.

Our tips for successful iced tea

• Use water that is pleasant to drink: it makes up the bulk of the recipe.
• Respect the temperature: water that is too hot can make certain green teas more bitter.
• Add citrus fruits in moderation: too much zest can overpower the aromas of the tea.
• Serve very cold: keep the carafe in the refrigerator and ideally enjoy it within 24 to 48 hours.
• Vary the stopovers: peach and verbena, strawberry and basil, orange and cinnamon, lemon and ginger... each carafe can become a new destination.

Can you make iced tea without sugar?

Yes. A well-chosen and properly brewed tea already has sufficient aromatic richness. Fruit infusions, rooibos, and fresh fruits allow you to create a delicious drink without systematically adding sugar.

How much should you prepare?

A one-liter carafe generally serves four large glasses. For a summer table or a picnic, simply double the quantities while maintaining the same proportions.

It's up to you to chart the course

Homemade iced tea is not a fixed recipe: it is a field of exploration. Start with a base you love, choose a few fruits or aromatic herbs, then adjust the steeping time to your taste.

Ready to fill the next carafe? Explore our fruit infusions and create your own refreshing stopover.

Article written by the crew of Cap sur le Thé — discover our story.