Quick Answer

To make iced tea with Tea. Earl Grey. Hot., brew it double-strength, cool it quickly, and pour over ice. This avoids dilution and keeps the bergamot flavor bright.

Why Brew Double-Strength

When you pour hot tea over ice, the ice melts and dilutes the flavor. Brewing with twice the tea leaves compensates for that dilution, so your iced tea tastes as robust as the hot version. This is the key to a flavorful glass, not a watery one.

Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. is a Ceylon black tea with bergamot and cornflower petals. Its medium caffeine and high antioxidant levels make it a great base for iced tea—refreshing but not too heavy.

The Bitterness Trap

Black tea can turn bitter if over-steeped or brewed with boiling water. For iced tea, you want a smooth, balanced cup. Use water just off the boil (around 200°F) and steep for no more than 3–4 minutes. This extracts the flavor without pulling out too many tannins.

If you prefer a stronger tea, add more leaves rather than steeping longer. This gives you more flavor without the astringency.

Step-by-Step Iced Tea Method

  1. Boil and measure: Bring 2 cups of filtered water to a boil, then let it cool for 30 seconds. Use 2 teaspoons of Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. (or one tea bag) per cup—double the amount you'd use for hot tea. Using filtered water improves the taste; tap water can add off-flavors.
  2. Steep, don't drown: Pour the hot water over the tea and steep for 3–4 minutes. Set a timer—over-steeping makes the tea bitter. Taste at 3 minutes; if it's still weak, steep 30 seconds more, but never exceed 4 minutes.
  3. Strain and sweeten (optional): Remove the tea leaves or bag. If you like sweet tea, stir in 1–2 teaspoons of sugar or honey while the tea is still warm, so it dissolves easily. Sweetening now is easier than later; you can also skip it for a more traditional Earl Grey taste.
  4. Cool it fast: Pour the hot tea into a heatproof pitcher and add 2 cups of cold water. This speeds up cooling and prevents the tea from turning cloudy. Don't leave hot tea on the counter to cool slowly—it can develop a stale taste.
  5. Serve over ice: Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the chilled tea over. Garnish with a lemon slice or a sprig of mint if you like. For a stronger iced tea, freeze some tea into ice cubes to avoid dilution.

Product Spotlight

  • Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.: Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. is a Ceylon black tea with bergamot and cornflower petals, and it makes about 20-25 cups per 50g tin. This means one tin can supply several rounds of iced tea, making it a practical choice for summer entertaining.

    Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

    Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.