The Best Tea for Iced Tea
The best tea for iced tea is a bold black tea if you want a classic Southern-style pitcher, a bright green tea for a lighter glass, or a fruity herbal blend if you want no caffeine. Brew it about twice as strong as hot tea, or cold-brew it in the fridge overnight, then pour over ice. Loose-leaf tea gives a fuller, smoother iced tea than most tea bags.
Our picks for iced tea
Each pick links to its product page.
Why: a caffeinated black tea blend that won a Southern Living Food Award in 2015 for producing the perfect pitcher of iced tea, per the maker.
Why: a caffeine-free berry herbal blend the maker calls a fan favorite served iced.
Why: an organic, caffeine-free hibiscus and citrus blend made for iced tea.
Why: an organic, caffeine-free lemony herbal blend with lavender, made for iced tea.
Why: organic black tea with pear and ginger; the listing names iced tea on warm days.
Why: a pure Chinese green tea; the listing names iced green tea.
Why: green tea with lemon verbena, spearmint and lemongrass; listed for iced green tea on a warm day.
How we chose
We picked only products that are in stock on Madeline's today, and every reason below comes from the maker's own product listing. There are no paid placements, star ratings or invented reviews, and the order is not a ranking. Prices, sizes and availability can change, so check each product page.
Two easy ways to make iced tea
Hot-brew: steep about twice the usual amount of tea in hot water, strain, then pour over plenty of ice or chill. Cold-brew: combine about 1 tablespoon of loose tea per cup of cold water, refrigerate 6 to 12 hours, and strain. Cold-brewing gives a smoother, less bitter tea, especially for green tea.
What to look for
- Black tea for classic sweet tea and lemonade blends.
- Green tea for a light, crisp glass; cold-brew to avoid bitterness.
- Herbal blends like hibiscus or berry for caffeine-free, colorful pitchers.
- Loose leaf for fuller flavor; buy enough for a pitcher at a time.
Shop more: Tea, Best Loose Leaf Teas, Compared. Or browse every curated page on Shop by Meal, Occasion, Diet & Origin.
Frequently asked questions
- What tea is best for iced tea?
- A bold black tea for classic iced tea, a light green tea for a crisp glass, or a hibiscus or berry herbal blend for caffeine-free iced tea.
- Can you cold-brew loose-leaf tea?
- Yes. Use about 1 tablespoon per cup of cold water, refrigerate 6 to 12 hours, then strain.
- Why is my iced tea cloudy?
- Cloudiness happens when strong hot tea is chilled quickly. It's harmless; cold-brewing or cooling the tea before refrigerating reduces it.
- How strong should iced tea be brewed?
- When pouring hot tea over ice, brew it about twice as strong as usual so it isn't watered down.
- Is there caffeine-free iced tea?
- Yes. Herbal blends such as hibiscus, berry or lemony herb blends are naturally caffeine-free.