Iced tea staples like fruity blacks or the classic southern sweet tea are favorites on everyone’s summer beverage menu, however, we’re here to remind you that to increase the greenbacks for summer sales, brew up bigger sales pitching green teas to quench the thirst and resist the high temperatures.

As many of you already know, green teas are healthy choices for lowering blood pressure and lowering body temperature but do your customers know that greens readily adapt to cold brewing? Japanese classics like Genmaicha, Sencha, Matcha, and Gyokuro are particularly wonderful because their intensely chlorophyll green taste stands up well to brewing either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. We even have a recipe to adding carbonated water for a fizzy glass of deliciousness. (PS: Your customers will love the fact that they can prepare green tea drinks without heating water or the kitchen!)

Why Cold Brew?

Cold brewing some tea choices may require a little planning, but the benefits are enormous: it never yields a bitter glass; reduced stimulants like caffeine. (A 16 oz. serving of cold-brewed green tea has only 15mg of caffeine, while just a 6 oz. cup of hot tea contains 26mg, on average.) And, cold brewed methods work well for any grade of green tea. Best of all, even a total newbie to tea brewing can do this!

The Ratios

The ratios listed below are suggestions only; use more or less tea to suit your palate. You may want to experiment using a typical tumbler for iced tea. Measure the amount of liquid it holds and measure your tea accordingly. Our basic suggestion is 2 tablespoons of tea leaves per quart (32 oz.) of water. While loose leaf offers the best flavor extraction, tea bags of fine greens also work well.

To use the cold brew method with Matcha, add 1 teaspoon per 8 oz. of water into a bottle and shake vigorously, and enjoy immediately. For a variation, brew 1 teaspoon per 8 oz. of milk, shake, and serve plain or over ice.

Genmaicha, because of its more intensely green flavor should be used with a ratio of 10 oz. of water to 1 tablespoons of tea. In most cases, 1 teabag of any green tea to 12 oz. of water should be fine. Brew up to three hours in the refrigerator or at room temperature; taste and brew longer if desired. Serve over ice or drink plain.

For Sencha, use 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea with 12 oz. cold filtered or spring water. and put both into a bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate for three hours or overnight. To serve, pour over ice and drink. For an added touch, add pieces of fresh honeydew melon, berries or mint to the infusion.

The Methods

Place the tea leaves in the bottom of a large clean glass jar or teapot with a filter. Add the water, then cover the jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate to steep for three hours or overnight. Yes, that’s right, overnight because cold-brewing never yields a bitter cup.

To serve, remove the tea bags or filter out the leaves, then pour and drink as is or pour over ice for an icy refreshing drink. Cold brewed green tea will remain fresh tasting in the fridge for up to three days (if it lasts that long!)

You can cold brew green tea in a thermos if you’re on the go. Fill the thermos with ¾ ice then the remainder with cold water. Add tea leaves and shake. Seal tightly and by the time you’re in need of a break on your errands or are ready to have your lunch break at work, your tea will be ready to savor.

Cold Brewing with Ice produces a very light, delicate taste, especially desirable for the connoisseur of fine greens, particularly ultra-fine Sencha or Gyokuro. Place 1-2 tablespoons of loose tea leaves in your pot or clean glass jar, then fill with ice and allow it to sit until the ice melts. Strain the leaves through a fine-mesh sieve and serve. Add fresh fruit or lemon, as desired.

Combo Cold/Hot Brewing for Green Tea Soda. Put loose-leaf green tea in a teapot and pour ¼ of the necessary water over it. The exception is that it should be hot water (up to 185°F.) Allow to steep 1-3 minutes until the leaves are saturated and create a thick mixture. Add carbonated water such as Perrier or San Pellegrino. Lime or lemon flavored are fun choices! Filter out the leaves through a fine-mesh sieve over a pitcher or glass and add ice, if desired.

P.S. Sieved leaves are reusable and can be steeped at least one more time, often several times, making these cold-brewed methods very affordable.