Making Iced Tea with Cold Brew Method
For those who love a tall, refreshing glass of Iced tea in the summer, it is no secret that iced tea is a treat. Depending on the person, they may prefer it sweet or unsweetened. And by this same token, some like their iced tea to be smooth, mild and naturally sweet, while another person may enjoy a slightly stronger flavor with their beverage. As previously explained in the article Making Iced Tea with Citrus Cinnamon Green Tea, one can use the flash-chill method which leads to a slightly stronger flavor profile. A quicker process than cold brewing, it requires you to immediately pour freshly brewed hot tea over ice. However, the tea will not be as smooth or as mild as tea crafted with the cold brew method. But why is this, you may be asking?
To explain this, it is important to first understand why the flash-chill method leads to a more potent-tasting glass of tea. Defined as brewing a cup of hot tea and then pouring the tea over ice, the flash-chill method naturally contains tannins. Tannings are chemical compounds found in plants and spices which contain the flavor and antioxidants. When heated at hotter water temperatures, the more tannings that are released during the tea-steeping process. Because of this, iced tea made with the flash-chill method will be stronger.
By contrast, cold brewed tea is tea that is steeped in cold water for 6-12 hours in the refrigerator. Since the extraction of tannins is slowed when tea is submerged at cold temperatures, it can lead to a smoother tasting glass of cold tea. However, for this method to be successful, the tea has to be steeped for longer than hot tea. This steeping time is also dependent on the serving size and the type of tea you are using. An example is making a 64 oz in the London Fog Black tea using the cold brew method. Requiring smaller serving sizes than what you would use for the flash-chill method, it is suggested to use 1 tbsp per 32 oz for the London Fog. Or to put it another way, 1 teaspoon per 10.6 oz. For the author, he prefers to leave it in the refrigerator for abt 8 hours.
The following guidelines will help you get started in your loose-leaf tea, cold brewing experimentation:
Begin with abt. 1 teaspoon per 8 oz. You can always adjust it to your own taste preferences.
If you are creating a cold brew with White or Green tea, you will likely only need to leave your brew in the refrigerator for around 6 hours. This is because White and Green tea have shorter steeping times.
If you are creating a cold brew with Black tea, Oolong tea, or Pu-erh tea, it will likely be ideal around 8 hours. You can always check in at 8 hours and steep it for longer if necessary.
Over steeping a cold brew can still result in a stronger than desired flavor. It is suggested to taste test your brew every 2 hours, especially if you are new to cold brewing.
Take your time and experiment with your favorite tea blends, the longer you do, the more enjoyable the experience. The better you will become at cold brewing as well.
Whether you are new or are experienced to tea, the world of loose-leaf tea can be complex. And just because making iced tea is not as simple as creating a cup of hot tea, it does not mean cold tea cannot be enjoyable. The key to making your ideal cup of cold tea lays in the steeping method. For those who prefer a naturally smoother, milder, and sweeter tasting glass of iced tea, they can use the cold brew method. While those who like a stronger flavor profile, the flash-chill method may be for them. All that is required is a bit of experimentation and knowledge.
