Cold Brew Green Tea
A smooth, refreshing green tea that's steeped slowly in cold water instead of hot. This method draws out delicate umami notes and natural sweetness while leaving behind the bitterness and astringency you get from hot brewing. Perfect for warm afternoons, it's incredibly easy to make and requires no special equipment.
For 4 servings
- prep · ~1 min
Measure the tea leaves into a pitcher.
1.Add 4 teaspoons of loose leaf green tea to a clean 1-liter pitcher or large jar.2.Use sencha or gyokuro for best results — delicate leaves work beautifully with cold brewing.TIPDon't use tea dust or fannings — they turn bitter even with cold water. Whole leaves or larger broken leaves work best. - mix · ~1 min
Add cold filtered water.
Pour 4 cups of cold filtered water over the tea leaves. Stir gently once to make sure all the leaves are saturated and submerged.
- rest · ~420 min
Cover and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours.
Cover the pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap. Place it in the refrigerator and let the tea steep slowly for at least 6 hours, or overnight for a fuller flavor. The cold water extracts sweetness and umami without pulling out bitter tannins.
TIPOvernight steeping is ideal — just pop it in the fridge before bed and it's ready by morning. - prep · ~1 min
Strain out the tea leaves.
Place a fine mesh strainer over a clean pitcher or directly over serving glasses. Pour the cold brewed tea through the strainer to remove all tea leaves. Discard the used leaves.
- assemble · ~1 min
Fill glasses with ice and pour the tea.
1.Fill 4 serving glasses with ice cubes.2.Pour the strained cold brew green tea over the ice.3.Garnish each glass with a thin slice of lemon and serve immediately.
What to keep in mind.
6 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1Use whole-leaf sencha or gyokuro for a sweeter, more umami-rich cold brew; avoid tea bags which can taste dusty.
- 2Steep for exactly 6–8 hours; longer than 10 hours may start to extract bitterness even in cold water.
- 3Always use filtered cold water — tap water minerals can dull the tea's delicate flavor.
- 4Stir gently just once after adding water; over-stirring can bruise the leaves and cause astringency.
- 5Strain through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth to catch tiny leaf particles for a crystal-clear brew.
- 6Make a double batch and store in the fridge for up to 3 days — the flavor stays smooth and fresh.
Adapt it for your goals.
Citrus mint
Add 4–6 fresh mint sprigs and a strip of lemon zest to the pitcher before steeping. This gives a bright, herbaceous lift that's especially refreshing in summer.
lower caffeineLower caffeine
Use hojicha (roasted green tea) instead of sencha — the roasting process reduces caffeine content and adds a toasty, nutty flavor that cold brews beautifully.
fruity sweetFruity sweet
Substitute the lemon garnish with a few slices of ripe peach or nectarine. The fruit infuses a subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with the tea's natural umami.
jasmine twistJasmine twist
Swap the green tea for jasmine-scented green tea pearls. The floral notes become delicate and layered when cold-brewed, not perfumey.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Rich in Antioxidants
Green tea is naturally high in catechins, especially EGCG, which help protect cells from oxidative stress and support overall wellness.
Calming L-Theanine
Cold brewing preserves L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation without drowsiness, making this a perfect afternoon focus drink.
Hydrating and Low Calorie
Made with only water and tea leaves, this beverage is naturally calorie-free and a flavorful way to meet your daily hydration needs.
No Added Sugars
Unlike many bottled teas, this recipe contains zero sweeteners — the natural sweetness comes from gentle cold extraction, not sugar.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but the flavor will be less nuanced — use 4 tea bags for 4 cups of water and remove them after 6 hours to avoid bitterness.
