Recipes & Routines

Three Iced Tea Recipes Worth Making

Flash-chilled peach oolong, cold-brew jasmine, and a proper unsweetened house iced black tea.

6 min read Updated 2026-06-22
Tall glass of iced tea with mint and citrus on a bright table

Key takeaways

  • Flash chilling over ice keeps aroma that slow cooling loses.
  • Brew double strength if you are pouring over ice.
  • Sweeten while warm so sugar dissolves properly.

Flash-chilled peach oolong

Brew 6g of oolong in 10 oz (300 ml) at 194°F (90°C) for 2.5 minutes, then pour straight over a glass packed with ice and a few slices of ripe peach. If you are new to iced tea, start with our guide to clear, full-flavored iced tea.

Recommended products

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Cold brew pitchersBest Seller

Cold Brew Iced Tea Pitcher

Two-quart glass pitcher with a fine-mesh infusion core for overnight steeping.

Why we recommend it: Cold brewing needs a long steep and a big basket - this handles both.

$25-$35
Check Price on Amazon
Fruit infusers

Fruit Infusion Pitcher

Pitcher with a fruit chamber for citrus, berry and herb tea blends.

Why we recommend it: Perfect for fruit-forward herbal iced teas without cloudy pulp.

$22-$32
Check Price on Amazon

Overnight jasmine cold brew

10g jasmine green in 1L cold water, refrigerated 8 hours, strained. Serve plain — it needs nothing.

Also worth having

Loose-leaf teas

Single-origin loose-leaf tea, 3.5 oz

A 100 g pouch of single-origin leaf with harvest and region on the label.

Why we recommend it: One good tea, drunk often, teaches more than twelve mystery pouches.

$12–$28
Check Price on Amazon
Recipes & Routines: Tall glass of iced tea with mint and citrus on a bright table
Tall glass of iced tea with mint and citrus on a bright table

House iced black tea

12g Ceylon in 17 oz (500 ml) at 212°F (100°C) for 4 minutes, sweeten to taste while hot, then dilute with 17 oz (500 ml) cold water and chill.

Recommended products to get started

Temperature-controlled kettles

Variable-temperature gooseneck kettle

Electric gooseneck kettle with presets from 160°F to boiling and a hold-temp setting.

Why we recommend it: Green and white tea scorch above 180°F — presets take the guesswork out of every steep.

$70–$110
Check Price on Amazon
Electric kettles

Stainless electric kettle, 1.7 L

Fast-boiling cordless kettle with a concealed element and auto shut-off.

Why we recommend it: The cheapest reliable way to get hot water; rest it a few minutes for delicate leaf.

$25–$40
Check Price on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

Why did my iced tea go cloudy?
Rapid cooling of strong black tea causes tannins to bind. Harmless. Let it cool briefly before refrigerating, or cold brew instead.
How long does iced tea keep?
Up to three days refrigerated in a sealed jug.
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About the author

Written by the Leaf & Steep editorial team. We brew, weigh and re-taste the tea and methods we write about at home with ordinary kitchen equipment. Product recommendations are chosen by research rather than hands-on testing, and no sponsorship influences a verdict. How we research and test.