Cold Brew Ice Teas
My mom (Tica), has always loved to make sun tea. Since I was little, we’ve used the same clear glass pitcher filled up with loose leaf raspberry mint or hibiscus tea, set it out in the afternoon sun next to our napping cat to steep. I remember pulling out my magnifying glass and, to my moms dismay, attempting to burn my name into the wooden beams of the porch while the tea steeped.
The cold brew method reminds me of sun tea, since you're simply steeping tea in water for hours, but cold brew takes place in the refrigerator instead of the front porch.
Heat brings out bitter flavors of tea, but in the absence of heat, your provided a refreshing smooth tea perfect for hot summer days. It isn’t nearly as bitter, similar to cold brew coffee, which is why I love cold brew tea so much!
How to Make It
The method is easy. Combine cold water and your favorite loose leaf Tahoe Tea in a pitcher and let the tea infuse for anywhere from 4-12 hours (see instructions below for specific tea brew times). Once infused, strain and enjoy your cold brew tea that will taste great for days!
Another option - steep your loose leaf tea in a clean French press. Just let the tea infuse, then press down to enjoy.
Cold brew can be done with just tea, or you can add in some fruits, herbs, and citrus to enrich the flavor. Below are some listed recipes for some tantalizing Tahoe Teas cold-brew recipes.
Recipes
All of these recipes combine one citrus, herb, and fruit with a loose leaf tea. Remember, the water you use does make a difference. Make sure it's cold, clean, and filtered - if you are lucky enough to be brewing in Tahoe, tap water is as good as gold.
In terms of steep time, some teas steep longer than others. If steeped for too long, some teas become bitter. Stay tuned to our instagram where we’ll post new cold brew tutorial videos each week!
Week 1: Strawberry Basil Cold Brew Tea - Tahoe Black + lemon + strawberry + basil
Week 2: Pineapple Ginger Cold Brew Tea- Tahoe local + pineapple + ginger
Week 3: Raspberry Mint Cold Brew Green Tea - Tahoe green + lemon + raspberry + mint
Week 4: Strawberry Rooibos Cold Brew Tea - Tahoe Balance + orange (take off peel) + strawberry + mint
Week 5: Dragon Well Mint Cold Brew Tea - Tahoe Green + lime + sliced green grapes + mint
Week 6: Watermelon Cold Brew Tea - Tahoe Black + lemon + watermelon + mint sweeten a bit w monk fruit
Week 7: Apple Cold Brew Tea - Tahoe bliss + (no citrus since lemon peel in it) + Apple + Mint
Week 8: Mango Cold Brew Tea - Tahoe Black + lime + mango + thyme
Week 9: Peach Cold Brew Oolong Tea - Tahoe Blue + lime + peach + rosemary
Week 10: Cold Brew Milk Tea - Tahoe Chai and milk instead of water - cinnamon
Week 11: 3-2-1 Cold Brew Tea - Tahoe Local - 2 lemon + 3 naval orange +1 lime and mint
Week 12: Cold Brew Chai Concentrate - 1 tbsp chai 1 tbsp sugar for every cup of water (No fruit, citrus, or herb)