As the temperature rises and the sun shines bright, there's no better time to indulge in the delightful world of tea. While we often associate tea with warmth and comfort, it can also be a refreshing beverage to beat the summer heat. In this blog post, we will explore three fantastic ways to enjoy tea during the summertime. Let's dive in and discover the ultimate tea treats for the sunny season!
Cold Brew Tea
Cold brewing is a simple and refreshing method that involves steeping tea leaves in cold water for a longer period, allowing the flavours to infuse gently and creating a smooth, mellow brew. Here's how to make cold brew tea using our Cold Brew Tea Bottle, the easiest, mess free, way to brew:
- Start by selecting your favourite loose leaf tea. Check out our selection of Cold Brew blends to see if any take your fancy.
- Add 4-6 Perfect Tea Spoons into your Cold Brew Bottle. You can experiment with different amounts to find your ideal strength.
- Fill the bottle with your chosen liquid - this can be water, lemonade, oat milk, anything you can think of really!
- Close up the bottle and give it a gentle shake to ensure the leaves are fully immersed in your liquid.
- Let the tea steep in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight for stronger flavours. The longer you steep, the more intense the flavour profile becomes. (Note: if you have used lemonade, this can sometimes cause the top of the bottle to loosen, just let the excess air out and replace it tightly).
- Once you are ready, simply pour the cold brew out (maybe over some ice) & enjoy!
Iced Tea
When time is of the essence, or if you're hosting a gathering, creating a tea concentrate can be a convenient and efficient way to enjoy iced tea. By preparing a concentrated form of tea, you can quickly whip up a refreshing glass whenever the craving strikes. Here's how to make iced tea using a tea concentrate:
- Select your preferred tea blend. Any of our Cold Brew blends work well for this, but making a tea concentrate can also be transferred across to making a tea latte or cocktails too.
- Pop 2-3 Perfect Tea Spoons of your tea into a Brewdini or strainer of your choice.
- Add 150ml of hot water, at the temperature outlined on the tea packaging.
- Once the tea has steeped for the correct amount of time, strain the leaves and transfer the concentrated tea into a separate container. Allow it to cool before refrigerating to retain its freshness.
- When you're ready for a glass of iced tea, fill a glass with ice cubes and pour a small amount of the tea concentrate over the ice, almost like a dilute juice.
- Dilute the concentrate with still water, sparkling water, or lemonade - adjusting the strength to your liking. Feel free to add any garnishes too, lemon wedges, or a sprig of mint for an extra burst of flavour.
- Enjoy!
Sun Tea
Sun tea, an age-old method of brewing tea using the power of the sun, has delighted tea enthusiasts for generations. Especially popular in the USA, this phenomenon is slowly catching on in the UK and over Europe. Not only does it infuse tea with subtle flavours, but it also captures the essence of summer too.
- Choose your favourite loose-leaf tea blend. Once again our Cold Brew tea selection is wonderful for this.
- Fill a glass container with cold water, preferably with a lid. (Our Cold Brew Bottle is fantastic for this, talk about dual purpose!)
- Add 4-6 Perfect Tea Spoons of tea.
- Secure the lid on the container and place it outside in a sunny spot. Let it steep for 2-3 hours, allowing the sun's warmth to coax out the flavours.
- Once the tea has reached your desired strength, remove the container from the sun. Strain the tea leaves and transfer the sun-kissed brew to a pitcher if you haven’t used a Cold Brew Bottle.
- Serve the sun tea over ice, adding sweeteners or garnishes if desired, and relish the refreshing taste of summer in every sip.
As the heat of summer ramps up, tea can still be a fantastically refreshing beverage. Low in sugar, great for the planet, and fantastic for hydration too! Take a break from the scorching sun, savour the coolness of a tea-infused concoction, & let the flavours transport you to a world of summer bliss. Cheers to tea-filled adventures all season long!