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Iced Tea, the Must-Have Drink of Summer!
Summer has arrived, bringing with it the search for refreshing, thirst-quenching, delicious and healthy drinks. Cold-brew teas have become increasingly popular in recent years. Trendy and full of flavour, iced teas are the perfect companions for hot summer days and relaxing moments with family and friends. A delicious alternative to sugary soft drinks with little nutritional value.
Let's explore the many facets of iced tea, from preparation methods and the benefits of cold brewing to choosing the right teas, recipe ideas, and iced tea traditions from around the world.
Join us on a refreshing journey to discover the world of iced tea, the ultimate summer drink!
Who invented iced tea?
The invention of iced tea is often attributed to Richard Blechynden, a representative of a British tea company who came to promote Indian tea at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, Missouri. As director of the Tea Pavilion, Blechynden had originally planned to serve hot tea to visitors. However, because of the intense summer heat, he decided to pour the hot tea over ice, creating a refreshing new version of the drink. This homemade iced tea proved to be a great success with visitors, and from then on, iced tea began to grow in popularity across the United States.
It is worth noting, however, that cold tea beverages had been enjoyed long before then. In China, for example, the practice of cooling tea dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
During the summer, tea was prepared in advance and cooled using snow. In Japan, cold tea, known as "mizudashi" or "hiya-ocha", has been enjoyed since the 17th century.
Mizudashi is made by steeping green tea in cold water for several hours, producing a light and refreshing drink.
How to make homemade iced tea
Hot or cold? Both methods work. At terre d’Oc, however, we favour cold brewing. This method helps prevent the tannins from clumping together and forming a thin film on the surface of the infusion.
STEP 1 – The right quantity
Use about 1 generous teaspoon per cup (200 ml), or 5 teaspoons of tea per litre (10–12 g of tea). You can adjust the amount of tea depending on the quantity of iced tea you wish to prepare.
STEP 2 – The container
Place the tea leaves into a container such as a carafe, glass pitcher or any other suitable vessel. Add the tea leaves directly to the container. For serving inspiration, discover our practical and elegant glass carafes.
STEP 3 -
Pour cold water over the tea leaves. Stir gently to ensure that all the leaves are fully immersed in the water.
STEP 4 -
Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight for a more intense flavour.
STEP 5 -
Once the infusion is complete, strain the tea through a fine sieve or a tea filter to remove the tea leaves.
And that's it – your iced tea is ready to enjoy with ice cubes and fresh fruit!
What are the benefits of cold brewing?
Cold brewing brings out the tea's softer, more delicate flavours, resulting in a drink that is less bitter and less astringent than hot-brewed tea.
Cold brewing also extracts less caffeine, making it an excellent choice for those who are sensitive to caffeine or simply wish to reduce their intake. This means iced tea can even be enjoyed in the evening.
Cold-brewed tea can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator, so you'll always have delicious iced tea ready to enjoy.
However, we recommend consuming it within 24 hours.
Depending on the iced tea you prepare, you can enhance it with pieces of fresh organic fruit (such as peaches, strawberries, citrus fruits or berries), aromatic herbs (mint, lemongrass, etc.) or gentle spices such as vanilla or cinnamon.
Which tea is best for iced tea? Our favourites
Now that you know how to make homemade iced tea, let's look at the best teas and botanicals to choose. Flavoured loose-leaf teas and gourmet blends (red berries, citrus, vanilla, chocolate, etc.) are particularly well suited to cold brewing. Their fruity aromas make them wonderfully refreshing without the need for added sugar.
You can enhance these flavours even further by adding fresh fruit, citrus slices, ginger, fresh mint leaves or verbena. And for truly original iced teas, discover terre d’Oc's organic gourmet teas and create your own delicious recipes.
Did you know that tea also contains vitamins and minerals (such as fluoride and potassium)?
Black tea, with its rich and robust flavour, is particularly well suited to cold brewing. Green tea is also an excellent choice for iced tea, offering fresh, vegetal and sometimes slightly grassy notes. It can be enjoyed on its own or enhanced with ingredients such as
lemon slices or fresh ginger. Delicate and subtle, with elegant floral notes, white tea produces a light and refreshing iced tea, perfect for those who prefer milder flavours. Discover terre d’Oc's selection of white teas for beautifully refreshing iced teas.
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Tea bags made from cotton muslin or cornstarch are very convenient to use, as they require no teapot, infuser or other accessories. However, while tea bags are practical, loose-leaf white tea develops even more aroma and flavour, as the leaves have more room to unfurl during infusion. They can also be infused 2 to 3 times.
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Finally, don't forget herbal infusions. Mint, rooibos, honeybush and fruity herbal blends are all perfect for preparing refreshing iced infusions. Naturally caffeine-free, they are delicious, hydrating and full of flavour. With their wide variety of original and surprising tastes, they're a great choice for the whole family—and children love them too!
To make preparing iced infusions even easier, you can also use ready-to-brew tea bags specially designed for iced tea. Discover our iced tea collection, complete with elegant containers and refill packs, for effortless homemade iced tea.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Have fun experimenting, creating and discovering new flavours and recipes!
Do you know the world's iced tea traditions?
In the southern United States, sweet iced tea is a true classic. It is traditionally made by brewing a strong black tea and adding sugar. In the northern states, however, iced tea is more commonly enjoyed unsweetened, often served plain or with a few slices of lemon.
In Thailand, people cool down with Thai iced tea, made by brewing black tea with spices such as cardamom and cinnamon, sweetened with sugar, then poured over ice and mixed with milk. It is a staple on the menus of many Thai restaurants. In South America, yerba mate is also enjoyed as a refreshing iced drink. Known as tereré, it is prepared by cold-infusing yerba mate, resulting in a refreshing and naturally energising beverage that is especially popular during the summer.
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Explore the traditions and signature ingredients of different countries and regions around the world: choose terre d’Oc's organic English Breakfast black tea to make a refreshing Southern-style sweet iced tea, organic yerba mate for a traditional tereré, or organic Chai black tea for a delicious Thai iced tea.
Iced Tea Recipes
Organic Citrus & Mint Iced Yerba Mate – Refreshing and Energising
Ingredients for 2 people
2 tsp terre d’Oc organic mint & citrus yerba mate
500 ml cold water
1 tsp organic lime zest
2 thin slices of organic lime, fresh organic mint leaves for garnish and ice cubes
1. Place the yerba mate and lime zest in a glass pitcher.
2. Add the cold water and leave to infuse overnight in the refrigerator.
3. Strain the infusion.
4. Serve in attractive glasses with ice cubes, then garnish with a slice of lime and fresh mint leaves.
Learn more about the origin, benefits and preparation of yerba mate.
Organic Matcha Iced Honey & Lemon Tea – Sweet, Revitalising and Citrusy
Ingredients for 2 people
5 tsp organic honey
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and a little organic lemon zest
500 ml water
½ tsp terre d’Oc organic matcha tea
Ice cubes
1. Mix the lemon juice, honey, lemon zest and water in a glass pitcher.
2. Whisk the matcha vigorously with a small amount of cold water, then add it to the pitcher.
3. Refrigerate overnight.
4. Stir well before serving.
5. Serve in attractive glasses with plenty of ice cubes.
Posted in:
Tea time
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