Must-Have Cold Tea Brews This Summer, And How to Make Them at Home

India in summer is brutal. You're sweating by 8am, reaching for something cold every hour, and if you're paying any attention to what you drink, running out of interesting options fast. Water is essential. Packaged drinks are mostly sugar. And iced coffee at 4pm is a sleep quality decision you'll regret.

Cold-brewed teas sit in a different category. They're hydrating, functional, and when made with the right ingredients, genuinely refreshing in a way that flavoured water never is.

Here's what you need to know about cold brewing teas, which blends work best, and how to make them at home without any special equipment.

What Is Cold Brew Tea And Why Does It Matter?

Cold brewing is exactly what it sounds like: steeping tea or herbs in cold or room-temperature water for an extended period (typically 6-12 hours) instead of using hot water for a few minutes.

The difference isn't just temperature. It's chemistry.

Hot water extracts compounds quickly, including tannins, which create bitterness and astringency. Cold water extracts more slowly, resulting in a smoother, naturally sweeter, less bitter brew that preserves more of the delicate volatile aromatics in the herb.

For herbal teas built around botanicals like chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, and peppermint the cold brew method is arguably the better one. You get the full aromatic profile without the harshness. And in summer, a chilled herbal brew that's been steeping overnight is deeply satisfying in a way a hot cup simply isn't.

The 5 Best Cold Tea Brews to Try Right Now

1. Chamomile Cold Brew

Why it works: Chamomile's active compound, apigenin, binds to GABA receptors in the brain the same pathway involved in relaxation and reducing anxiety. Cold brewing preserves its floral, apple-like aromatics beautifully.

How to make it:

• Add 2 tsp loose chamomile (or 2 tea bags) to 500ml of cold water
• Steep in the refrigerator for 8-10 hours
• Strain and serve over ice with a thin slice of lemon or orange

Best enjoyed: mid-afternoon or as a start to your evening wind-down.

2. Peppermint Cold Brew

Why it works: Peppermint contains menthol, a natural compound shown to support digestion, ease bloating, and create a cooling sensation especially useful in Indian summers. It's also one of the cleanest, crispest cold brews you can make.

How to make it:

• Add a small handful of fresh mint leaves or 1-2 tsp dried peppermint to 500ml cold water
• Steep for 6-8 hours, covered
• Strain and serve over ice. No sweetener needed menthol does the work.

Best enjoyed: post-meal or mid-morning as a digestive support.

3. Lavender Lemon Cold Brew

Why it works: Linalool, the primary aromatic compound in lavender, has documented anxiolytic (anxiety-modulating) effects. Paired with lemon, it creates a floral-citrus profile that feels as good as it tastes.

How to make it:

• Add 1 tsp dried culinary lavender + juice of half a lemon to 400ml cold water
• Steep for 6-8 hours
• Strain well (lavender can overpower if left too long) and serve over ice
• Optional: a touch of raw honey to balance

Best enjoyed: weekend afternoon or during any slow, intentional break.

4. Cold Brew Green Tea

The easiest cold brew to start with. Green tea cold brews beautifully — no bitterness, just a clean, grassy sweetness.

Why it works: Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that supports calm focus without the jitteriness of caffeine. Combined with its natural antioxidant profile, it's a solid morning or mid-morning drink.

How to make it:

• Add 1.5 tsp loose leaf green tea (or 2 tea bags) to 600ml cold filtered water
• Steep in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours
• Strain and serve over ice. Add a few mint leaves or a slice of lemon if you want flavour.

Best enjoyed: Morning or early afternoon. Light enough to drink daily.

5. AM Ritual Cold Brew - The Morning Intention Version

If you want your morning cold brew to do more than hydrate, this is worth trying.

AKYA's AM Ritual Tea - a blend of green tea, tulsi, lemongrass, ginger, and peppermint, cold brews into one of the most refreshing summer morning drinks you'll make at home. It's lightly caffeinated (from green tea, not synthetics), grounding without being heavy, and genuinely energising without the crash trajectory of coffee.

Each ingredient earns its place: Tulsi is an adaptogen that supports the body's stress response, Lemongrass has a bright citrus-herbal profile that lifts the flavour cold, Ginger adds a subtle warmth that cuts through the cold beautifully, and peppermint keeps it crisp and cooling.

How to make it:

• Add 1.5 tsp AM Ritual loose leaf to 500ml cold filtered water
• Steep in the refrigerator for 6 - 8 hours, overnight works perfectly
• Strain and serve over ice. No sweetener needed; ginger and lemongrass do the work.
• Optional: a squeeze of lime and a few fresh mint leaves if you want it brighter

Best enjoyed: Within 30 minutes of waking on an empty stomach or post-hydration. A deliberate, slow start to the morning rather than a rushed caffeine hit.

6. Hibiscus Cold Brew (Roselle / Gudhal)

One of the most visually striking and flavourful cold brews you can make. Deep crimson, tart, naturally floral.

Why it works: Hibiscus sabdariffa is rich in anthocyanins, the same class of antioxidants found in berries. Studies suggest it may support healthy blood pressure and has a mild diuretic effect, which helps with water retention in summer heat.

How to make it:

• Add 2 tsp dried hibiscus flowers to 500ml cold water
• Steep for 6-8 hours in the refrigerator
• Strain and serve over ice. A squeeze of lime and a pinch of black salt turns this into something special.
• Optional: a touch of raw honey or jaggery syrup if you want it slightly sweet

Best enjoyed: Mid-afternoon. Works as a standalone drink or a base for a sparkling hibiscus spritz (top with plain soda water).

7. Peach or Berry Iced Green Tea

A step up in complexity and one that earns it.

How to make it:

• Brew green tea slightly stronger than usual (2 tsp per 400ml, steep 4 minutes in hot water)
• Let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate
• Add 4-5 slices of fresh peach or a small handful of fresh/frozen berries directly to the chilled tea
• Let the fruit steep for another 2-3 hours in the fridge
• Serve over ice. Do not strain, let the fruit sit at the bottom.

Best enjoyed: Weekend afternoons. This one takes time but the payoff is worth it.

8. PM Blend Cold Brew, The Evening Ritual Version

If you want the benefits of multiple calming botanicals without blending from scratch, an evening herbal blend designed specifically for wind-down - like AKYA's PM Unwind Tea, cold brews particularly well.

The blend combines - chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, licorice, and peppermint, all five of which work synergistically in cold water. Licorice adds a subtle natural sweetness that eliminates the need for any added sugar. The result is a brew that's aromatic, slightly sweet, and genuinely calming.

How to make it:

• Add 1–1.5 tsp of PM Unwind loose leaf to 400ml of cold water
• Steep in the refrigerator for 6–8 hours (no longer - licorice can intensify)
• Strain and serve over ice. Garnish with a fresh mint sprig if you have it.

Best enjoyed: 30 - 45 minutes before you want to start winding down.
Not at the gym. Definitely not with a screen.

Cold Brew Tea vs. Iced Tea : What's the Difference?

For herbal teas specifically, cold brew is the better method.
The slow extraction suits delicate botanicals - you lose less of what makes them interesting.

A Few Practical Notes Before You Start

1. Don't over-steep. Beyond 12 hours, even gentle herbs can turn bitter or overpowering. Taste at 6-8 hours and decide.

2. Glass containers work best. They don't retain odours from previous uses. A simple mason jar or glass pitcher is all you need.

3. Batch it. Cold brews keep well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Make a 1-litre batch Sunday evening and you're set for weekday mornings or evenings.

4. Skip the sugar by default. Cold brews are naturally less bitter than hot-brewed teas. Most don't need sweetener. If you want some, raw honey or jaggery syrup (both added post-strain) are the cleanest options.

The Wellness Case for Herbal Cold Brews

Beyond hydration, the consistent case for herbal teas, particularly calming botanical blends  comes down to what they replace.

In summer, most urban Indians are chronically under-hydrated and reaching for the wrong things packaged juices, cold coffees, aerated drinks. All of which either spike blood sugar, add caffeine, or do both.

Cold-brewed teas solve the problem quietly. They're hydrating, flavourful, and when built on functional botanicals genuinely supportive of how you want to feel at different points in the day.

That's not marketing. That's just well-formulated herbal science, consumed cold.

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Looking for a blend that's already done the work?
AKYA's PM Unwind Tea is a caffeine-free evening infusion built around five calming botanicals. It cold brews beautifully, try it tonight.