When It's All About the Iced Tea - Cold Brew Tea Basics

Two of the easiest ways to make a great iced tea are via Simple Brew (hot) and Cold Brew methods.

SIMPLE BREW ICED TEA

Simple brew refers to a straight-forward hot brew. However, when you are making iced tea, the tea leaf-to-water ratio must be altered a bit. If you want iced tea in a hurry, the Simple Brew method is best: use the same amount of water per serving, the same hot water temperature your tea calls for, and the same steep time your tea calls for, but you must double the amount of tea leaves you use per serving. Once your tea is steeped, pour it over a full glass of ice, and voila! — simple, quick iced tea.

Our Scry Teapot offers the easiest way to brew simply and beautifully. The clear glass vessel allows you to watch your tea leaves and botanicals change colors and unfurl as they steep, and because it is made of sturdy borosilicate glass, it retains heat well, and resists breakage both from thumps and bumps and dramatic fluctuations in water temperature. 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

1. Scry Teapot (600 ml)

2. Tea

3. Hot Water (filtered)

4. Tablespoon

5. Iced Tea glass or pitcher

ADD TEA

If you are making two 8 oz servings of iced tea, add 4 tablespoons of tea (this is double the amount of tea you would normally use for two servings) to a clean, dry Scry teapot.

HEAT WATER

Heat your water to the temperature yourwith an electric kettle to the recommended temperature for your tea (found on the back label of your tea bag). 

ADD WATER

Fill the Scry teapot with hot water (whatever temperature your tea calls for) to just below the spout (approx. 600 ml). Stir. 

STEEP

Add the lid and allow your tea to steep for the recommended time (found on the back label of your tea package). Do not be tempted to let your tea steep longer than its recommended time.

POUR

Pour your tea over two 8 oz glasses of ice, stir, and enjoy; OR, pour over 16 oz of ice, stir, and enjoy!

Here is an example for 16 oz iced Cicada tea. Here is your simple brew recipe:

1. Add 4 TBS Cicada tea (this is double what it calls for per serving — see the back label of your Cicada bag) to your scry teapot

2. Pour 8 oz of hot water at 185ºF over the leaves and cover

3. Steep for 6-8 minutes

4. Decant over two 8 oz glasses filled with ice.

5. If you want to sweeten your tea with honey, decant the hot tea into a separate pitcher once it is fully steeped, add honey to taste, and then pour it over ice.