What Makes Cold Brew Tea Different From Iced Tea?

Have you ever reached for a perfectly chilled glass of thirst-quenching iced tea and suddenly, as it slides down your throat, you realize it tastes just a little different than you expected? The reason could be that you're actually sipping cold brew tea rather than iced tea. Yes, both are refreshing alternatives to hot teas on hot days — but they actually differ in very distinctive ways and, much like the difference between cold brew coffee and iced coffee, it all comes down to the preparation methods.

Cold brew tea is made by steeping tea leaves in cold water over a period of several hours. Iced tea, on the other hand, starts out as traditional hot-brewed tea that's later cooled and served over ice. The temperature difference is a major distinction, leading to subtle flavor nuances. In cold brewing, the slow, gentle extraction of tea coaxes out more of the tea's inherent sweetness, resulting in a smoother taste. By contrast, the flavor of iced tea is bolder and more complex, often carrying a tinge of bitterness.

The different ways in which cold brew tea and iced tea are prepared result in more than just flavor nuances, however. The high heat used to craft iced tea pulls out more caffeine than cold brewing, leading to a buzzier, pick-me-up experience than what you'll get from a glass of cold brew tea. But, it also diminishes some of the tea's inherent health benefits, making cold brew tea the more health-advantageous option.  

It's well known that tea in general brings a host of health benefits. Some types of teas – particularly green, black, and hibiscus tea — carry powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. According to a 2014 study, both have health effects that can protect against things like heart disease, while improving cholesterol levels and helping maintain blood pressure. Cold brewing tends to retain more of these positive effects compared to what's destroyed by the boiling hot water necessary for standard iced tea. But, there's also a third option: a Japanese cold-brew counterpart known as ice brewing or kouridashi brewing. 

Ice brewing refers to a process of ice extraction in which high-quality, loose leaf tea is placed in a container with large ice cubes or a big block of ice. The tea then brews as the block slowly melts, providing an end result that's more concentrated yet mellow. It's considered the ideal cold-tea method for bringing out umami flavors with almost no bitterness. This process can take half an hour to two hours depending on the size of the ice, compared to the several hours it takes to prepare cold brew tea or iced tea. But, it's one of the best methods for brewing high quality and specialty teas while preserving the health benefits within.