# How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter)

**Canonical URL:** https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/
**Source:** teas.co.uk, UK tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

## Summary

Good iced tea is hot-brewed strong and chilled fast, not weak tea over ice: more leaf not a longer steep, sweeten warm, brew for the melt.

## Description

How to make iced tea, in summary: Good iced tea is hot-brewed strong and chilled fast, not weak tea over ice: more leaf not a longer steep, sweeten warm, brew for the melt.

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/
Good iced tea is simple but unforgiving of the two classic mistakes: bitterness and wateriness. Here is the method that avoids both. This sits in the tea making cluster beside the cold brew guide.
Last reviewed by the teas.co.uk team in January 2026.
Brew it strong

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Brew it strong, How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/Use roughly 1.5 to 2 times the leaf you would for a hot cup, because ice will dilute it. Get strength from more leaf, not longer steeping, which adds bitterness.
Do not over steep

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Do not over steep, How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/Steep for the normal time for the tea type, then remove the leaf. Over steeping to "make it strong" is the single biggest cause of bitter iced tea, see the temperature guide.
Sweeten while warm

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Sweeten while warm, How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/If sweetening, dissolve it into the warm concentrate or use a simple syrup. Sugar added to a cold glass never dissolves and you over add chasing it, see sweetening tea.
Chill fast

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Chill fast, How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/Cool the concentrate quickly and pour over plenty of ice, or chill in the fridge. Slow cooling can cloud it (harmless "tea cream", worse in hard water and over-steeped tea); fast chilling keeps it clear.
Dilution plan

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Dilution plan, How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/Account for melting ice: either brew a strong concentrate to pour over ice, or brew double strength and top with cold water. Either way the end glass should taste of tea, not water.
Flavour itLemon, mint, peach, ginger or berries add character and reduce the sugar needed. Add citrus after brewing, not during, to avoid bitterness, see iced tea recipes.
Best teasBlack for classic, green for light, fruit and herbal for caffeine free. Avoid delicate teas that get lost over ice, see black tea.
The clear takeawayStrong base, normal steep time, sweeten warm, chill fast, plan for dilution. Get those and iced tea is reliably clean and brisk, see cold brew for the smoother route.
Iced tea, at a glance

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/
StepRuleBrew strongRoughly double strength; ice will dilute it hardDo not over-steepStrong is from more leaf, not a longer bitter steepSweeten warmSugar dissolves in warm tea, not in icedChill fastStraight over plenty of ice or quickly in the fridgeDilution planBrew for the melt; weak iced tea is under-brewed, not over-iced
The relevant aisle: the herbal & fruit infusions and green tea range.
From the curatorteas · If a tea on this page sounds appealing, just try it once. You learn more in one cup than in twenty articles.
More tea readingHow to make cold brew teaIced teaHow to make teablack tea explained 
Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for How to Make Iced Tea (Properly, Not Bitter). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-make-iced-tea/
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