Perfect Homemade Iced Tea with Loose-Leaf Tea in Summer

On a hot summer day, making yourself a refreshing cup of iced tea using high-quality Chinese loose-leaf tea is the most pleasant choice.

Regularly consumed iced tea drinks often contain artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and flavors which can lead to health issues like insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Our homemade iced tea is a healthy and natural summer drink. It avoids health risks and provides the original flavor and nutrients of the tea.

1. Use loose-leaf tea instead of tea bags

Our iced tea is made from Chinese loose-leaf tea with no added sugar or chemicals. It contains vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Tea polyphenols have antioxidants that can neutralize harmful substances, reduce cell damage, and slow down aging. They can also limit cholesterol production and are suitable for heart health.

It's best to avoid using tea bags processed using the CTC (Crush Tear Curl) method for making iced tea. These tea bags release bitter-tasting substances, resulting in a bitter and less refreshing iced tea.

2. Tea leaves suitable for iced tea

• Green tea is packed with tea polyphenols and vitamin C, which have strong antioxidant properties that protect the skin from sun damage. It also contains catechins that reduce inflammation and help cool the body down, making it a good choice for staying calm and relieving internal heat in the summer.
• Black tea has a smooth taste and light flavor. It contains theaflavins and thearubigins, which aid digestion, improve gut health, and boost the nervous system. Suitable for those with sensitive stomachs and for improving digestion.
• Oolong tea has a strong smell and contains tannic acid, which helps reduce fat absorption, promote fat breakdown, and aid in lowering fat and losing weight. Polyphenols can control blood sugar and blood fats and have a positive role in preventing diabetes and heart disease.
• White tea can help reduce fever and remove toxins from the body. It contains high levels of flavonoids and powerful antioxidants, which can neutralize harmful molecules and protect cells. The amino acids in white tea can also help calm nerves, reduce stress, and promote relaxation during the summer.

These four types of tea have unique flavors and are rich in nutrients. They are great for making iced tea to suit different tastes and health needs.

3. Two powerful methods to prepare...

3.1 Method One: Cold Brewing Method

The cold brewing method is a simple and effective way to bring out the delicate flavor of your tea, making iced tea a breeze.

• First, prepare a clean bottle with no peculiar smell, and select the capacity according to your needs.
• Different tea leaves have different dosages. For different tea leaves, the amount of tea leaves per 500 ml of water is:

• Green tea: 5-6 grams
• Black tea: 6-7 grams
• Oolong tea: 7-8 grams
• White tea: 5-6 grams

• Put the tea leaves into the bottle to avoid breaking and affecting the taste. Add high-quality drinking water at room temperature and seal it tightly to prevent odor and evaporation.
• Place in the refrigerator for 8 - 12 hours.

The tea leaves slowly and evenly release their flavor and aroma at low temperatures during this process. This approach has many benefits:

• The flavor is gentle and smooth, keeping essential nutrients like vitamins and amino acids to the fullest extent, which helps reduce damage caused by oxidation. It has minimal bitterness, making it a good choice for those who don't enjoy bitter tastes.
• You can prepare iced tea in advance using the cold brewing method. This method is energy-saving, easy to use, and doesn't require heating. It's versatile and suitable for mass production and storage in summer.
• Remember, you can store cold brew tea in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, but it's best to drink it within 24 hours for the best taste and quality. Making fresh cold brew tea daily ensures you can enjoy it at its best every day.

3.2 Method 2: Hot bubble cooling method

The 'hot bubble cooling method' is a fast way to get the essence of tea leaves. The resulting tea has a strong flavor and pleasant smell, perfect for those who want to taste it quickly. You can also change the strength and taste of the tea by adjusting the water temperature and how long you let the leaves soak. This method benefits people who like a strong tea flavor or want to try different brewing techniques.

• First, choose a giant teapot and boil the appropriate amount of hot water according to the amount of iced tea you need.
• For different tea leaves, the amount of tea leaves per 500 ml of water is:
• Green tea: 3-4 grams
• Black tea: 4-5 grams
• Oolong tea: 3-5 grams
• White tea: 3-4 grams
• After the water boils, let it sit for a while
• Green tea water temperature drops to 85 - 90 degrees Celsius
• Other teas are 90 - 95 degrees Celsius
• Add tea leaves, pour hot water, and steep for 3-5 minutes. Strictly control the time to avoid bitterness.
• After steeping, filter out the tea soup and quickly add ice cubes. The number of ice cubes depends on the cooling speed and ice tea concentration.

4. Pair iced tea with fruit

4.1 Recommended fruit pairings

• To make refreshing iced Green tea, you can add the following to the tea:
• 2-3 slices of lemon per 500 ml
• 3-4 pieces of strawberries per 500 ml (add before drinking)
• 10-15 blueberries per 500 ml (soak with the tea leaves)
• and pieces of honeydew melon (add the appropriate amount per 500 ml before drinking).
• White tea
• peaches (peeled and cut into pieces, 3 - 4 pieces per 500 ml, soaked together with the tea)
• pears (peeled and cut into pieces, 3 - 4 pieces per 500 ml, soaked together with the tea or added before drinking)
• Watermelon (cut into cubes, appropriate amount per 500 ml, added before drinking) can make iced tea sweeter.
• Oolong tea
• mango (peeled and cut into pieces, 3-4 pieces per 500 ml, soaked with tea leaves)
• pineapple (cut into pieces, appropriate amount per 500 ml, soaked with tea leaves)
• passion fruit (scoop out the pulp, one piece per 500 ml) - 2 pieces, add it before drinking) to increase the fruity aroma and layering of iced tea.
• Herbal tea, such as rose tea
• strawberries and blueberries (cut into cubes, 3-4 pieces per 500 ml, add before drinking)
• chrysanthemum tea with lemon (slices, 2-3 pieces per 500 ml), oranges (cut into cubes or squeezed) 
• Add an appropriate amount of juice before drinking or soak it with tea) to create a unique flavor.

4.2 Not recommended fruit pairings

But some fruits are not suitable for cold brewing

• Durian (has a unique smell and may have a strong smell when soaked)
• Banana (soft texture, easy to rot)
• Avocado (bland taste, high in fat, uncoordinated taste)
• Persimmons (immature ones contain tannic acid, which affects taste and digestion)
• Hawthorn (too sour, may make the tea taste too astringent)
• Dragon fruit (the seeds affect the taste and have a bland taste)
• Guava (particular smell and taste, not easy to blend)
• Star fruit (bland taste, shape, and texture, unsuitable for cold brewing).

Come and try to make your summer iced tea and enjoy coolness and health! 

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