Cold-Brew Peach Iced Tea
In short: Smooth, naturally sweet peach iced tea made by steeping tea bags and fresh peach slices in cold water overnight in the fridge. It takes about 10 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Resting
- 10 h
- Total
- 10 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 36 kcal
Cold brewing tea gives a smoother, less bitter drink than hot brewing, because the tannins that cause harshness dissolve slowly in cold water. Here fresh peach slices steep along with the tea, so the fruit perfumes the whole jug. You do nothing but wait overnight. Ripe, fragrant peaches matter most. Nectarines and apricots work as well, and so does frozen fruit when peaches are out of season.
Instructions
- Stir the sugar into the hot water until it dissolves, to make a quick syrup. Let it cool for a few minutes.
- Put the tea bags and about three quarters of the peach slices in a large jug. Pour in the cold water and the syrup, and stir.
- Cover and refrigerate for 8 to 10 hours, or overnight. Do not steep longer than 12 hours.
- Lift out the tea bags without squeezing them. Pour the tea through a sieve into another jug, pressing the peach slices gently to release their juice.
- Taste, and stir in a little more sugar if you like. The peaches will have added some sweetness already.
- Serve over ice with a few of the reserved fresh peach slices in each glass.
Tips
- Very ripe, even slightly soft peaches give the most flavor. Hard peaches add very little, so leave them on the counter for a day first.
- Keep the jug cold the whole time and use a clean jar. Cold-brewed tea is a gentle environment for bacteria if left out on the counter.
Questions and answers
Is cold-brew iced tea safe to make?
Yes, as long as the jug is clean and stays in the fridge the whole time. Drink it within 3 days, and discard it if it turns cloudy, slimy or smells off.
Can I use frozen peaches?
Yes. Use 300 g (2 cups) of frozen slices and add them straight to the jug. They release juice as they thaw, so the tea turns pleasantly fruity.
Can I cold brew green or herbal tea the same way?
Yes. Green tea needs only 6 to 8 hours or it turns bitter. Herbal teas can steep the full 10 to 12 hours.
How long does it take to make Cold-Brew Peach Iced Tea?
About 10 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Cold-Brew Peach Iced Tea?
About 36 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 9 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 36 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 9 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
