How many tea bags per litre of iced tea?

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.

Why should I steep in hot water rather than cold?

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.

How do I prevent cloudy iced tea?

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.

How long does homemade iced tea last?

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.

Can I use cold brew for iced tea?

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.

How much sugar should I add?

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.

Iced Tea Calculator — Free Online Tool

How We Calculate This

The calculator uses a ratio of 4 tea bags per litre of water, with adjustable sweetness. Steeping times vary by tea type to avoid bitterness.

Steep Times

Black tea: 5 minutes in freshly boiled water
Green tea: 3 minutes in water cooled to 80C
Herbal / fruit tea: 7 minutes in freshly boiled water

Method

Boil water and steep tea bags for the recommended time
Remove tea bags — do not squeeze them (causes bitterness)
Stir in sugar while the tea is hot
Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate
Serve over ice with lemon slices or fresh mint

The glasses figure counts portions of the brewed tea at your chosen glass size. Once you serve over ice, each glass holds part ice, so you will get noticeably more servings than the brewed-tea count shown.

Storage & food safety

Keep iced tea in a clean, airtight container in the fridge. Unsweetened tea keeps best for about 3–5 days; sweetened tea spoils faster (within 2–3 days) because the sugar feeds microbial growth, and fruit or juice shortens this to 1–2 days. Discard any tea that looks cloudy or ropey, smells fermented, or tastes off.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are based on standard ratios and conversions. Results may vary with specific ingredients, equipment, and conditions.