How long does it take to cold brew loose leaf tea?

In the refrigerator, most teas cold brew well in 8 to 12 hours. Green teas and chamomile can be ready in 6 to 8 hours. Room temperature cold brew takes 4 to 6 hours. Overnight in the fridge is the most convenient approach: set it up before bed and it is ready when you wake up.

What is the ratio of loose leaf tea to water for cold brew?

A good starting point is 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea per 16 oz of cold water. For stronger flavor, use 1.5 to 2 tablespoons. Herbal teas and rooibos generally benefit from more leaf (1.5 to 2 tablespoons) because their flavor extracts less efficiently in cold water than caffeinated teas.

Can all loose leaf teas be cold brewed?

Yes. All types of tea cold brew well, though the results vary by tea type. Green teas and white teas are particularly well-suited to cold brewing because the lower extraction removes bitterness completely. Black teas, oolong, rooibos, and most herbal teas all produce excellent cold brew. Cold brewing is one of the most forgiving methods available and nearly impossible to ruin.

How to Cold Brew Loose Leaf Tea at Home

Cold brewing loose leaf tea at home is about as simple as any preparation method in the kitchen. No special equipment is required. No precise timing. No heat. You add tea to water, refrigerate it overnight, and strain it in the morning. What you get is a smoother, naturally sweeter cup than hot brewing produces, without any of the bitterness that hot water can extract from even good-quality tea leaves.

The technique is worth learning because it opens up a different side of every tea you already own. A green tea that can be difficult to brew hot without bitterness (water too hot, steep time one minute too long) becomes forgiving and elegant cold brewed. A rooibos that you usually drink warm becomes a vibrant, refreshing iced drink. Cold brewing isn't just a warm-weather technique: many tea drinkers keep a jar in the fridge year-round.

What You Need

No special equipment is required. What you need:

A jar, pitcher, or any container with a lid (a wide-mouth mason jar works perfectly)
Loose leaf tea of your choice
Cold or room temperature filtered water (tap water works if it tastes good)
A fine mesh strainer, a cheesecloth, or a reusable infuser for straining
8 to 12 hours (brewing overnight is the most convenient approach)

The Basic Method, Step by Step

Measure your tea. Start with 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea per 16 oz (500ml) of water. For a stronger brew, use 1.5 to 2 tablespoons. You can adjust after tasting your first batch.
Add tea to your container. Either add it directly (straining later) or put it in an infuser. Directly in the jar gives leaves more room to expand and usually produces better extraction.
Cover with cold water. Fill your container with cold or room temperature water. Seal it.
Refrigerate. Place in the fridge for 8 to 12 hours. Overnight is the standard approach: put it together before bed, strain it when you wake up.
Strain and serve. Pour through a fine mesh strainer into a glass or another container. Discard the leaves (or compost them). Serve over ice, or drink as-is. Add honey, lemon, or fruit if you like.

Ratios and Times for Different Teas

Tea Type	Per 16oz Water	Time in Fridge	Result
Green Tea (Sencha)	1.5 tbsp	6 to 8 hours	Clean, sweet, no bitterness
Black Tea (Earl Grey)	1 tbsp	8 to 12 hours	Smooth, full-bodied
Red Rooibos	2 tbsp	8 to 12 hours	Sweet, warming even cold
Chamomile	1.5 tbsp	6 to 8 hours	Delicate, floral, honey notes
Hibiscus	2 tbsp	8 to 12 hours	Deep ruby, tart, vibrant
Peppermint	1 tbsp	6 to 8 hours	Cooling, clean, refreshing

Why Loose Leaf Makes Better Cold Brew Than Tea Bags

Cold brewing rewards whole or near-whole leaves significantly more than broken dust and fannings. The slow cold extraction draws flavor out gradually through the full surface area of intact leaves. With dust-grade tea, the rapid initial extraction pulls flavor quickly but also pulls a lot of the flat, papery notes that broken tea tends to have. Whole loose leaf tea cold brewed gives a cleaner, more complex flavor profile.

Our Hound of Zencha Sencha cold brewed is one of the most compelling arguments for loose leaf tea over tea bags: it becomes something genuinely elegant, with a sweetness and clarity that its hot-brewed version only hints at. Similarly, the Citrus Setter Rooibos cold brewed produces a bright, citrusy pitcher tea that works as a summer house staple.

Room Temperature vs. Refrigerator Cold Brew

Room temperature cold brew (sometimes called sun tea) brews faster (4 to 6 hours instead of 8 to 12) because slightly warmer ambient temperature speeds up extraction. The result is often a bit more intense and slightly less forgiving. For tea bags or lower-quality tea, room temperature brewing for too long can sometimes allow unwanted bacterial growth in warm conditions. Refrigerator brewing is safer and more consistent: the cold inhibits any bacterial concerns and the longer steep time gives you more flexibility.

Storing and Using Cold Brew

Once strained, cold brew tea keeps refrigerated in a sealed container for 3 to 5 days. The flavor is best in the first 2 to 3 days and gradually flattens after that. Make a new batch every 2 to 3 days if you're drinking it regularly. Use the same leaves for a second cold brew if they were whole-leaf (add them to fresh cold water and steep 12 to 16 hours for a lighter second extraction).

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to try cold brew at home? Our Citrus Setter Rooibos, Hound of Zencha green tea, and Chamomile Flowers are all excellent cold brew candidates. Browse our full tea collection to find your starting point.

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