Food

3 Ways To Make The Best At-Home Iced Tea

Jun 13, 2025

By: Canadian Living

Photo by Erhan Inga/Shutterstock

Food

3 Ways To Make The Best At-Home Iced Tea

Jun 13, 2025

By: Canadian Living

There’s nothing more refreshing than a crisp glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.

From classic sweet teas to fruity blends, iced tea is a summer staple. Luckily, this tasty drink is super simple to make at home.

Not only can you control the sugar quantity in a homemade brew, it gives you the chance to get creative and customize your own flavours! Add a fruity syrup made from local farmers market finds, or a fresh spritz of lemon.

Here are the easiest ways to make your own iced tea.

1. Steep overnight

This is a slow but steady method. Simply toss your loose leaf tea infuser or tea bags into a pitcher of cold water (using a 1:1 ratio) and refrigerate overnight.

By cold brewing your tea, you avoid the risk of over-steeping it or burning the tea leaves with boiling water. This method is particularly handy for more delicate teas, such as green or white, which can quickly become bitter if burnt.

If you plan to add sugar or sweetener to your cold blend, we suggest mixing it with a dash of hot water to melt any granules or thick syrups so it doesn’t get chunky in the tea.

Get the recipe: Peach Rooibos Iced Tea

2. Hot brew

If you need to quickly whip up a batch of iced tea, the hot brew method is the one to go for.

Brew your tea as normal with boiling water, using double the amount of tea to ensure it doesn’t lose its flavour when iced. After letting it steep for three to five minutes (depending on the type of tea), remove the tea and add an equal part of ice or cold water to the brew.

For an easy hot brew, try a specialty iced tea pitcher, such as this one from DAVIDsTEA.

3. Sun tea

Sun tea is a classic southern method for brewing iced tea. As the name suggests, it relies on natural sunlight to warm up your brew and infuse it with tasty goodness.

You’ll want to do this at a time of day when the sun is high and light is shining into your home. Simply toss your tea bags (typically black, but any kind works) into a pitcher or dispenser of cool water, and let it steep for about two to three hours.

For a true southern taste, throw in some melted sugar and slices of lemon when you’re ready to sip.