Technically, iced tea is any type of tea that is served chilled. Different forms are available around the world, most made from the same Camellia Sinensis leaves as hot tea. As you might expect, however, the preparation and brewing process is different – something that private label tea manufacturers should be aware of so that they can best assist their customers.
High quality ingredients
Like any drink, iced tea tastes best when it is made from the best quality ingredients. Even the water should be fresh, either spring water or filtered tap water. Loose leaf tea tends to have a much stronger flavor than teabags as it is made from larger and more succulent leaves, with the lower quality dregs sifted away. The leaves that go into teabags are chopped very small and often accompanied by the dusty, tasteless leftovers known as fannings. Teabags may be more convenient in either time or money, but are best saved for those occasions when you are going to be using additional flavorings too.
Cold or hot brewing?
You can brew iced tea quickly, with hot water that is quickly chilled, but for many people, it is the long, slow cold brew that makes the most distinctive iced tea. Place the tea in cold water for 12 hours or more before pouring over ice. You do need to plan ahead of time, but it does make a distinct difference to the flavor of the tea.
Specifically, cold brewed tea has a lighter, sweeter taste because there is no hot water dramatically extracting the bitterness from the tannins. Hot brewed tea is more likely to need additional sweeteners such as sugar or fruit juice. You can check the flavor of your hot tea before you start chilling it to see if the ratio of tea to water needs adjusting. For cold brewing, you may want to test it regularly to see how the flavor is developing.
Adding sweeteners
You can add sugar to hot brewed iced tea whilst it is still hot to ensure it dissolves, but if you add it to cold brewed tea, then it will just sink to the bottom, leaving you with a drink that is mostly unsweetened. Popular sweeteners include maple syrup, agave and honey. Some people also add fruit, herbs, spices or other flavorings. Remember that any ice in the drink may have a diluting effect.
Why do private label tea manufacturers need to know this?
Private label tea manufacturers need to understand every aspect of the tea they produce so they can maximize its flavor. The production process involves brewing tea for them, so they can test it. They then have to be able to pass on that knowledge of the best brewing techniques to the retailer, who in turn needs to understand it so they can explain to the customer.
Some of the principles of brewing iced tea are very similar to those of hot tea, such as using the best ingredients. Other factors, however, such as the decision whether to hot or cold brew, are unique. The brewing process is also only part of the tea achieving its final taste, as there is also the opportunity to add extra flavorings, particularly sweeteners.