Quick Answer
Cold brew tea is made by steeping tea leaves in cold water for a long time in the refrigerator. Liberty Times summarized a formula from research by Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (now the Ministry of Agriculture): a tea-to-water weight ratio of about 1:50, kept at about 4°C; twisted (strip-style) leaves need about 4 hours and rolled (ball-style) leaves about 6–10 hours to develop aroma and color. At low temperatures, less catechin and caffeine is extracted, so the taste is usually sweeter and less bitter. Shops can offer cold brew pure teas and cold brew fruit teas.
The Basic Cold Brew Formula
| Item | Recommendation (Liberty Times, citing agriculture council research) |
|---|---|
| Tea-to-water ratio | Tea : water = 1 : 50 by weight |
| Temperature | About 4°C in the fridge |
| Twisted (strip) leaves | About 4 hours |
| Rolled (ball) leaves | About 6–10 hours |
The more surface area the leaves expose, the faster the extraction; rolled leaves need time to unfurl.
How to Make Cold Brew Tea
- Weigh: tea and cold water at 1:50 (for example 20g of tea to 1,000g of water).
- Steep: put the tea in a clean container and add cold water.
- Refrigerate: steep 4–10 hours depending on leaf style.
- Strain: remove the leaves or bags, keep refrigerated and label the time.
No-filter tea bags skip the straining step; see No-Filter Tea Bags vs Extraction Bags vs Loose-Leaf Tea.
Which Teas Suit Cold Brewing?
| Tea | Cold brew character |
|---|---|
| Jasmine green tea | Light and floral |
| Four Seasons Spring | Fresh, good for fruit teas |
| Ruby Black tea | Pronounced aroma; see Taiwan Tea No. 18 Ruby Black |
| Oolong | Varies with roast level |
Caffeine in Cold Brew Tea
Liberty Times notes that cold brewing extracts less caffeine. But levels still depend on the tea, amount and time, and Taiwanese chains must still label it; see How Much Caffeine Is in Bubble Tea?
Hygiene Reminder
Cold brew tea is never heated, so take extra care with containers, tools and water quality; refrigerate once done, label the time and use within your store’s set limit.
Tang Sugar Teas for Cold Brewing
Tang Sugar supplies jasmine green tea, high-mountain jasmine green tea, Four Seasons Spring, Ruby Black, charcoal-roasted oolong, Tieguanyin and more, plus no-filter tea bags. Request samples.
Products in this article
All 39 Tea Leaves →
FAQ
What is the ratio for cold brew tea?
Per Liberty Times’ summary of agriculture council research, about 1:50 tea to water by weight.
How long should cold brew tea steep?
At about 4°C, around 4 hours for twisted leaves and 6–10 hours for rolled leaves.
Does cold brew tea have less caffeine?
Less caffeine is extracted at low temperatures, but levels still depend on the tea and brewing conditions.
What should I watch with cold brew tea?
It isn’t heated, so keep containers, tools and water clean, refrigerate when done and use within your time limit.
Can cold brew tea leaves be reused?
Generally one steep is best: cold brewing is already a long extraction, so a second batch is noticeably weaker in aroma and color and keeps leaves soaking longer. Shops should use fresh tea for each batch and manage refrigeration and sales time by SOP.
Further Reading
- No-Filter Tea Bags vs Extraction Bags vs Loose-Leaf Tea
- What Is Jasmine Green Tea?
- How Much Caffeine Is in Bubble Tea?
Sources
- Liberty Times: The golden formula for homemade cold brew tea (in Chinese)
- Tang Sugar product list (March 2026 edition)
