Quick answer

To make iced green tea with loose leaf tea, use cold brew pitcher packs for the smoothest, least bitter flavor. Simply drop a pack into a pitcher of cold water, refrigerate for 8–12 hours, and pour over ice. For hot-brew iced tea, steep loose leaf green tea in hot water for 2–3 minutes, then pour over a full glass of ice.

Why cold brew works best for iced green tea

Cold brewing extracts flavor slowly, which means you get a naturally sweet, smooth iced tea without the bitterness or astringency that hot water can pull from green tea leaves. It also eliminates the need to cool down a hot brew, making it a true set-it-and-forget-it method. If you prefer a more concentrated flavor, you can steep hot and then dilute with ice, but cold brew is the most forgiving approach for beginners.

Steps to make iced green tea with loose leaf tea

  1. Choose your method: cold brew or hot brew: For cold brew, use a cold brew pitcher pack like Peaches N' Green Cold Brew 2qt Pitcher Packs. For hot brew, use 1 teaspoon of loose leaf green tea per 8 oz of water. Cold brew is smoother; hot brew is faster. Common mistake: using boiling water for green tea. It scorches the leaves and creates bitterness. Use 175°F (80°C) water for hot brew.
  2. Prepare the tea: For cold brew: drop one pitcher pack into a 2-quart pitcher filled with cold or room temperature water. For hot brew: steep loose leaf tea in hot water for exactly 2–3 minutes, then remove the leaves. Checkpoint: do not over-steep hot green tea. Set a timer to avoid a bitter taste.
  3. Chill and serve: For cold brew: refrigerate the pitcher for 8–12 hours, then pour over ice. For hot brew: fill a glass with ice and pour the hot tea directly over it. The ice will cool and dilute the tea to the perfect strength. Common mistake: adding ice to hot tea too slowly. Pour quickly over a full glass of ice to shock-chill the tea and preserve its bright flavor.

Product facts

  • Peaches N' Green Cold Brew 2qt Pitcher Packs (10pack): SMOOTH PEACH GREEN TEA: This smooth peach, loose leaf green tea is bursting with fresh-from-the-orchard flavor. SLENDERIZER BLEND: Our Slenderizer blends contain green teas that suppress your appetite and boost your metabolism. COLD BREW TEA: Our Cold Brew Tea Packets are specially formulated to safely brew a delicious 2 quart pitcher of loose leaf tea with cold or room temperature water. This pack is designed for the cold brew method, so you get consistent results without worrying about steeping time or bitterness. The peach flavor adds natural sweetness, reducing the need for added sugar.