When it's freezing, there are few things as perfect as a warm cup of tea. When it's hot, really hot, and no air conditioning seems to keep up, there are few things as perfect as a cold glass of tea. With so many options to make your tea cold, it's a wonderful go-to option during the best and worst summer has to offer!

1. Traditional Ice Tea

You can make any tea iced through the traditional brewing method! Black teas, green teas, white teas, and herbal teas are great subjects for chilling.

You can experiment with other types of teas such as Pu-erh and rooibos to find out which varieties you enjoy cold.
To make iced tea, there are two ways to do it.

If you are planning ahead, you can brew it normally and allow it to cool off in the fridge for a few hours. If you have 6+ hours, check out the cold brew section next. If you would like to have it done now, brew your tea at double the recommended strength and stir in half the volume with ice. For example, if you brew 16 oz of double-strength black tea, add about 2 cups of ice to make it iced.

2. Cold Brewed Tea

You can cold brew any tea. When it seems like too much heat to warm any water at all, cold brew is a great solution! Mix water and tea per your regular brewing directions (e.g. 1tsp per 8oz) and allow it to steep overnight or while you're out.
Sensitive white and green teas benefit from this method the most, with their hot water brewing temperatures of 160-180°F taking more attention otherwise. Green and white teas can steep for as little as 6 hours, and black teas are best with at least 8 hours. They can be left for 12-24 hours if you'd like them a little stronger.



For one of the easiest options around, simply drop a Pu-Erh Pearl into about 16oz of water and allow it to brew for 8-12 hours. If you don't have pearls, you can use any Pu-erh with fruity, nutty notes. Cold brewing Pu-erh tames a little of its bitterness and earthiness, allowing its more delicate flavors to come through.
If you're a Pu-erh fan who hasn't tried iced Pu-erh yet, you'll be absolutely delighted. These flavors are complex enough that even a sweet-toothed drinker may not need any sweetener. "May" being the key word.

3. Fruity Tea

Easy, fast, sweet and fruity. They'll help you look like you know exactly what you're doing even in the blistering heat.



Pictured is cold brewed Peach Bellini, wonderfully light and satisfying even without additional sweetener. Blended with colorful peach, mango, papaya, and strawberry, this tropical blend will almost make you feel like you're on vacation.
To keep up the fruity summer spirit, most any herbal tea will do!

4. Iced Tea Pouches

If measuring out tea and water then straining it out of your container isn't ideal, then iced pouches may be for you!



This mango iced tea is a snap to make! Simply place the bag into a quart of water to steep overnight.
Skip the measuring, too! If you've got a glass milk jug you're definitely on track to return one day, put it to work while you have it. A quart-sized mason jar will also make a charming home for your tea. Add the tea bag, fill with water, and return in 6-12 hours to a perfect cup of cool tea.

5. Easy Iced Matcha Latte

You don't have to cold brew ahead of time or ice warm tea until it's cold again to stave off the heat. For this method, you won't even need to have a proper matcha whisk set.


Start with 1 tsp matcha per 250ml or 1 cup cold milk. This concentration, called "thin matcha" or "usucha" is a common concentration and perfect if you don't have an excess of matcha. If you need more power to be awesome today, try "koicha" or "thick matcha." Koicha is made by simply doubling the amount of matcha you use.


Using warm water about 175°F or water heated to the "green tea" setting on a kettle, add about 2-3 tsp of water per tsp of matcha and whisk it into a paste. Keep adding just a little warm water and whisking until you have a smooth sludge and there are no more lumps.

If you like your latte sweetened, now is the perfect time to add your sweetener of choice. Honey and sugar are the most popular, fitting options, while maple syrup makes a great option for a vegan latte.


Just add milk and any ice, give it a swirl, and you're done. This ice-cold latte will help you to help you stay cool, and with its high caffeine content, doing all the amazing things you do! If you need it to be even colder, blend it with a handful of ice for an icy treat!


Now that you're armed for the warm weather, you can face it cool-headed and precisely as caffeinated as you'd like to be!