Cafe Express Black Currant

Black currant flavors harmonize with our special tea blend to create a unique, award winning taste. We've served this the at cafe express locations across Texas for over 20 years Hand-packed into 1/2lb packages. Brew this Houston classic anywhere! 

8oz tea makes around 100 8oz cups of iced tea

Rainforest Alliance Certified

How to make iced tea using loose leaf tea

There are a few ways to make iced tea with loose leaf teas and either works really well. I would say the difference is the time you have to prepare and if you want to steep your tea multiple times to get the most out of the tea leaves. Give both a try and let us know which you prefer.

Here are our two recommended ways for brewing loose leaf teas and making a delicious iced tea you, your family, and friends will enjoy. The first method is to cold brew your iced tea, meaning you leave it in the fridge overnight for approximately 8-12 hours.

The second method, which we tend to use when time is limited, is to make a concentrated batch by steeping it in hot water and either letting it cool off, mixing it with colder water, or just pouring it over ice.

Method 1: Cold Brewing Your Iced Tea (Amount for a full pitcher)

This is probably the easiest method as you don't have to worry about water temperatures or going over in time resulting in bitter tea. You have a few options for cold brewing iced tea. You can use an iced tea pitcher that has a built-in filter, which allows you to brew then pour directly into your glass while keeping all the leaves from floating into your tea. You can also use a french press, which will help strain and separate the tea from the leaves. Another option is to use large tea bags that can be discarded. However, you can also use a regular pitcher and a hand-held strainer to remove the leaves once the tea is brewed. We recommend investing in a pitcher with a built-in filter or a large French Press as it really makes it easy to brew iced teas.

Step 1: Add 5-10 tsp of loose leaf tea (depending on taste preference) to a 44 oz iced tea filter pitcher or 34 oz french press.
Step 2: Fill the pitcher or French Press with water and cover it with the pitcher or French Press lid.
Step 3: Place in your refrigerator and leave for approximately 8-12 hours or overnight.
Step 4: Remove the tea leaves from the iced tea pitcher filter or pour from your French Press to a pitcher.
Step 5: Taste your brewed tea and add water if you would like a lighter flavor. Adding ice will also dilute the flavor as it melts, so adjust to your preference by adding either water or just serving with more ice.

Method 2: Hot brewing your tea (Amount for a full pitcher)

Step 1: Add loose leaf tea (1 tsp per 6-8 oz of water) to a 34 oz French Press or glass teapot infuser
Step 2: Gently pour 3 cups hot water first, steep 2-5 minutes depending on the tea type. See a quick guide below.

White Teas – 2 minutes at 175°F-185°F.
Green Teas – 2 to 3 minutes at 175°F-185°F.
Black Teas – 2 to 3 minutes at 200°F-212°F.
Oolong Teas – 3 minutes at 195°F-200°F.

Step 3: Add 2-3 cups of ice-cold water with ice cubes.
Step 4: Taste your brewed tea and add water if you would like a lighter flavor. Adding ice will also dilute the flavor as it melts, so adjust to your preference by adding either water or just serving with more ice.