Iced Tea Calculator

Use about 4 tea bags per litre of water. Because iced tea is diluted by ice when served, you brew it slightly stronger than hot tea (common UK guidance is roughly 2.5–4 standard bags per litre). For loose leaf, the tea-industry standard is about 2–3g per teaspoon, so 4 teaspoons is roughly 8–12g per litre — lean towards the stronger end for iced tea. Teaspoon weight varies a lot by leaf type, so weigh the tea (around 10g per litre) for consistent results.

Hot water extracts flavour and colour much more quickly and efficiently. Steep in freshly boiled water (or slightly cooled for green tea), then cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Cold-steeping is possible but takes 8-12 hours.

Cloudiness occurs when tea cools too quickly. Let it cool to room temperature naturally before refrigerating. Adding a small amount of boiling water to cloudy tea can clear it. Using filtered water also helps.

Store it in a clean, airtight container in the fridge. Unsweetened iced tea keeps best for about 3–5 days, while sweetened tea spoils faster — drink it within 2–3 days, because the dissolved sugar feeds microbial growth. Adding fresh fruit or juice shortens this to 1–2 days. For longest shelf life, keep the base tea unsweetened and add sugar or lemon to each glass. Discard any tea that tastes off, looks cloudy or ropey, or smells fermented.

Yes, place tea bags in cold water and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. Cold-brewed tea is smoother and less bitter because cold water extracts fewer tannins. Use the same number of tea bags as for hot brewing.

The calculator uses 75g per litre as a middle ground. Traditional Southern-style sweet tea uses 100-150g per litre. For a lightly sweetened version, try 50g. Always dissolve sugar in the hot tea before cooling for the best result.