Simple Iced Green Tea
Updated Feb 26, 2025
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Iced green tea is a refreshing drink that’s perfect for cooling off on hot days. Get my easy-to-follow instructions to make the perfect iced green tea with just 4 ingredients.
Homemade Iced Green Tea
Green tea is a tea that a lot of people say they don’t like (other than matcha) because it’s too bitter. Have no fear, Jee is here! (I’m Jee and I’m a Tea Sommelier.)
I’ll show you how to make this tea so it’s not bitter and you get a completely refreshing and perfectly sweet iced green tea. Spoiler alert: Tea becomes bitter when it’s brewed for too long or made using water that’s too hot. Be sure to keep track of the steep time and not use boiling hot water.
RELATED: 30 Refreshing Iced Tea Recipes
Recipe Summary
- Iced green tea is a caffeinated beverage made with just 4 ingredients: green tea, sugar, water, and ice.
- The recipe makes a 16 ounce (2 cups) serving but can easily be increased to make a pitcher.
- Green tea is brewed hot, then cooled down in the refrigerator, which takes 30 minutes.
RELATED: Iced Black Tea
Ingredient Notes
- Green tea: Any green tea works for this drink, including Lipton green tea bags. I’m using tea bags for easy clean up but you can also use loose green tea.
- Sugar: I like adding granulated white sugar since it dissolves easily, but you can use any sweetener you like.
- Water: Good quality water is important when making iced tea, so I always use filtered water.
- Ice: Same goes for the ice. Use filtered water to make ice for a better tasting ice.
For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Put tea bags and hot water into a teapot. Cover and steep. Heat water on the stovetop or use an electric kettle with a temperature setting.
Step 2: Remove tea bags and stir in sugar.
Step 3: Add cold water. Chill tea in the refrigerator. (I add cold water to cut the cooling time in the refrigerator.)
Step 4: Pour tea into a cup with ice.
Tea Sommelier’s Notes
Don’t oversteep the tea.
Set a timer and brew the tea for no more than 3 minutes. The longer you steep green tea, the more astringent and bitter it’ll get.
Don’t use boiling hot water.
It’s important to steep tea using the correct water temperature to prevent the green tea from getting bitter. I never make tea without using an electric kettle with a temperature setting. If heating water on the stovetop, no need to bring to a full rolling boil. Instead, use water that has come to a simmer.
Use tea bags, tea sachets, or loose tea.
Tea bags or sachets make for quick and easy cleanup, but I also often use loose tea. Use 1 tablespoon of loose green tea instead of 2 tea bags.
Make the tea ahead of time.
The iced green tea can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Only add the ice when you’re ready to serve.
Expert Tips
- Line the cup with sliced fruit or top with fresh mint as garnish.
- Turn this drink into a flavored iced tea by sweetening it with a syrup, like strawberry, hibiscus, or rose.
- Adding lemonade will sweeten and give the drink a tart lemon flavor.
RELATED: Starbucks Iced Green Tea Copycat
Related
- Strawberry Iced Tea
- Raspberry Iced Tea
- Lemon Iced Tea
- Starbucks Iced Green Tea Copycat
- Pineapple Iced Tea
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Iced Green Tea
Ingredients
- 2 green tea bags, (or 1 tablespoon loose tea)
- ½ cup hot water
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ cup cold water
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Put tea bags and ½ cup of hot water into a teapot.Boil water on the stovetop or use an electric kettle with a temperature setting. Set water temperature to 170°F.
- Cover and steep for 3 minutes. Discard tea bags.Steeping for longer will make the tea bitter.
- Stir in sugar until it dissolves. Add ½ cup of cold water.Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to cool.
- Pour cooled down tea into a cup with ice.
Notes
- Set a timer and brew the tea for no more than 3 minutes. The longer you steep green tea, the more astringent and bitter it’ll get.
- Any green tea works for this drink. Use tea bags or tea sachets for easy clean up. You can also use loose green tea, but it’ll be need to be strained after brewing.
- The iced green tea can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Granulated white sugar is used for this recipe, though you can use any sweetener you like.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
