Cold brew tea: how to make it at home
Put about 8 g of tea into a litre of cold water, leave it in the fridge for 6–12 hours, strain and serve over ice. We do not give a caffeine figure for cold brewed tea: our numbers (black 14–48 mg, green 11–29 mg per cup) are for hot brewing.
What you need
- About 8 g loose tea or 4 tea bags per litre (the same amount per cup we use in calculations: 2 g per 237 ml)
- 1 litre cold filtered water
- Optional: lemon, mint, ice
How to make it
- Choose a tea: black, green or white contain caffeine; rooibos and herbal teas usually do not.
- Put the tea in a glass jug and cover with cold water.
- Cover and refrigerate for 6–12 hours. Tea left too long can turn bitter, so taste after 6 hours the first time.
- Strain out the leaves or remove the bags.
- Keep it refrigerated and finish within 1–2 days. Serve over ice with lemon or mint.
How much caffeine
Our database figures (black 14–48 mg, green 11–29 mg per cup) are for hot brewing. We found no reliable data on how much caffeine cold water extracts from tea, so we do not claim cold brew has less. If you track caffeine, count it like a hot cup.
Tips
- Keep it in the fridge, not on the counter or in the sun: warm tea spends longer in the temperature range where bacteria grow (see source).
- Make it the evening before: it is ready in the morning, a good first step away from coffee.
- Adjust taste with time and amount, not heat.
FAQ
Does cold brew tea have less caffeine?
We found no reliable data, so we do not promise that. Count it like a hot cup.
How long does it keep?
Covered in the fridge for 1–2 days. That is general kitchen advice, not a standard.
Which tea works?
Black, green, white, rooibos and herbal teas all work; the caffeine depends on the tea you choose.
Also useful
Sources
- The Takeout: Maybe don't make sun tea this summer (cold brewing in the fridge vs warm sun tea)
- Mayo Clinic: Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more
- Ayakdaş & Ağagündüz, Foods 2025;14(13):2313 (68 tea samples)
Caffeine figures come from our database (checked 2026-10-24) and vary with the tea and brewing. General information, not medical advice. Amounts in recipes are only a starting point; adjust to taste.