16 Aug Green Tea Strawberry Cold Brew: A Refreshing Recipe for Summer
Green tea strawberry cold brew is one of those drinks that looks far more complicated than it actually is.
Fresh strawberries, a splash of citrus, a handful of mint and a good single-origin green tea, left to sit quietly in the fridge overnight, turn into a naturally sweet, softly pink iced tea with none of the bitterness you’d get from a rushed hot brew over ice.
This guide walks through why cold brewing suits green tea and strawberries so well, a simple formula you can reuse with almost any fruit, and a full recipe you can make with things already in your kitchen.
Table of Contents
Why Cold Brew Green Tea With Strawberries
Green tea is delicate.
Brew it hot for too long, or pour boiling water straight over the leaves, and you’ll pull out bitterness and astringency that mask everything else in the glass, fruit included.
Cold water avoids this almost entirely, since it’s far less efficient at extracting the tannins responsible for that bitter edge, while still slowly drawing out sweetness and flavour over several hours.
This is exactly why cold brewing works so well for a fruit-infused iced tea.
The green tea stays clean and smooth rather than sharp, which lets fresh strawberries actually come through instead of getting lost behind bitterness.
You’ll also notice the cold brew gradually turns a soft, natural shade of pink as the strawberries release their colour overnight, no food dye required.
The Formula: Tea, Fruit, Herb, Wildcard
Once you understand the basic formula behind a good fruit-infused cold brew, you can build endless variations without a recipe in front of you:
Tea + Fruit + Herb + Wildcard
For this Green Tea Strawberry Cold Brew, that breaks down to Long Jing green tea as the base, strawberries as the fruit, basil as the herb, and dried rose buds as this week’s wildcard.
Everything goes into the same teapot or jug, gets left to steep together in the fridge, and is strained off once it’s ready.
Basil adds a fresh, slightly peppery lift, while the dried rose buds bring a delicate floral note that turns this from a simple fruit tea into something a little more distinctive.
Green Tea Strawberry Cold Brew Recipe
| Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Steep Time | 8 to 12 hours (fridge) |
| Serves | 4 |
| Amount | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 3 tablespoons | Loose leaf Long Jing green tea |
| 8 to 10 | Fresh strawberries, hulled and cut into small pieces |
| A small handful | Fresh basil leaves |
| A tablespoon | Dried rose buds |
| 1 litre | Cold, filtered water |
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cut the strawberries into small pieces. |
| 2 | Add the loose leaf Long Jing green tea to a large teapot or jug, then add the strawberries, basil leaves and dried rose buds. |
| 3 | Fill with the cold, filtered water and stir gently so everything is fully submerged. |
| 4 | Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours. |
| 5 | Strain out the tea leaves, strawberries, basil and rose buds using a fine mesh strainer, pressing gently on the fruit to release any last colour and flavour. |
Store the strained cold brew in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 2 to 3 days for the best flavour.
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Curious about the proper technique for cold brewing tea? Read our guide on how to cold brew tea at home for the full method.
Recipe Notes and Tips
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Use whole leaf tea | Use good quality, whole leaf green tea rather than dusty, broken leaf bags. A gentle cold steep relies on quality leaf to carry flavour, and whole leaf tea gives a cleaner, smoother result. |
| Don't skip straining | Leaving the fruit, herbs and tea leaves in the jug past 24 hours risks an overly strong, slightly bitter brew, and gives bacteria more chance to grow in fruit-infused water. |
| Fresh vs frozen strawberries | Frozen strawberries work in a pinch, though fresh, ripe strawberries give the brightest colour and flavour. |
| For a stronger fruit flavour | Gently muddle two or three of the strawberries before adding them to the jug to release more juice. |
| Mild strawberries and mint after straining | This is completely normal, most of their flavour has transferred into the tea, and is not a sign anything went wrong. |
For guidance on what separates genuinely high-quality loose leaf tea from lower-grade blends, from leaf grade and origin transparency to spotting artificial flavouring and reading a seller’s sourcing claims, see our guide to choosing quality tea when buying online.
Variations to Try
| Variation | Details |
|---|---|
| Swap the herb | Basil brings a slightly peppery, more unusual note if you want something different from mint. |
| Swap the tea | A delicate white tea works beautifully with strawberries if you want an even lighter, more floral result. |
| Add a second fruit | A few slices of orange alongside the lemon adds extra sweetness and colour. |
| Make it sparkling | Top the strained cold brew with sparkling water just before serving for a lighter, fizzy finish. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Between 8 and 12 hours in the fridge is the sweet spot.
Yes, tea bags work fine, roughly 4 standard bags for this recipe, however whole leaf tea will give you a sweeter, smoother brew.
That’s the strawberries doing their job. As they sit in the cold water overnight, they naturally release colour along with their flavour, which is exactly what gives this drink its soft pink shade with no food dye needed.
Yes, frozen strawberries work well and can even help chill the brew faster. Fresh, ripe strawberries will generally give a slightly brighter colour and flavour, but frozen is a good year-round option.
Once strained, it’s best enjoyed within 2 to 3 days for the freshest flavour. Since there are no preservatives, don’t leave it much longer than that.
Keep Learning
This recipe is just one way to enjoy green tea.
Curious about Green tea? Read our complete guide to Green tea
For the full story on tea origins, types and brewing technique, read our Complete Guide Through the Remarkable World of Tea
Teapro co-founder. Favourite tea - Long Jing Dragon Well Green Tea. Obsessed with film, photography and travelling.
- Tatjana
- Tatjana
- Tatjana
- Tatjana
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