Iced Mountain Tea: How to Brew and Chill It Safely
Mountain tea is not only a winter drink. Brewed strong, chilled and poured over ice with lemon, it makes a pale gold, gently herbal glass for warm days. The key is brewing it in a way that keeps it safe.
Most people meet Greek mountain tea as a hot cup on a cold evening. But the same dried stems and flowers make a lovely cold drink. Its mild, earthy taste works well with lemon and ice, and it contains no caffeine, so you can sip it in the afternoon.
Cold drinks made from dried herbs need a little more care than hot ones, though. This guide shows a simple hot-brew-then-chill method, a slower fridge method, and how to store your jug so it stays fresh.
Why the brewing method matters
Dried herbs, like tea leaves, can carry microbes from the field. Illinois Extension explains that water that never gets hot cannot kill microorganisms that may be on the leaves, and that tea brewed with cool water and left out for hours carries a higher risk of bacterial growth.
This is why food safety experts advise against sun tea, the old habit of leaving a jar of tea to steep in the sun. Ohio State University Extension notes that a jar in the sun only reaches about 54 °C (130 °F), not hot enough to kill bacteria, and then sits warm for hours.
The safest way to make iced mountain tea is to brew it with boiling water first, as you would a hot cup, and then chill it.
Iced Mountain Tea with Lemon
You need
- dried Greek mountain tea, broken into short piecesabout 4 g (2 to 3 small sprigs)
- boiling water400 ml (1 2/3 cups)
- ice cubes, plus more for serving1 handful
- lemon2 thin slices
- orange peel, washed1 strip (optional)
Method
- Wash your hands and use a clean heatproof jug.
- Put the mountain tea and orange peel, if using, in the jug and pour over the boiling water.
- Cover and steep for 10 minutes, so the cup is a little stronger than usual and stands up to the ice.
- Strain into a clean glass jug and add a handful of ice to bring the temperature down.
- Put the jug in the fridge as soon as it is cool enough, and chill until cold.
- Serve in glasses over fresh ice with a lemon slice.
Tips
- Make only as much as you will drink within a few hours, as Ohio State University Extension advises, and keep it in the fridge until then rather than on the table.
- Do not leave brewed tea at room temperature for more than 8 hours, as Illinois Extension advises.
- If the tea turns thick, syrupy or stringy, do not drink it. Ohio State Extension says this texture may be caused by bacteria.
- Wash, rinse and sanitize jugs and strainers regularly.
What the evidence says
Chilling does not change what mountain tea is. The European Medicines Agency recognizes Sideritis as a traditional herbal medicine for adults, for relief of cough with a cold and mild stomach and gut discomfort. This is based on long use, not on clinical trials.
There is no research on iced mountain tea in particular, and no good evidence that it cools you down, hydrates you better than water or helps any health problem. Enjoy it as a pleasant drink.
On amount, EMA's assessment describes 2 to 4 g of the herb in 150 to 200 ml of boiling water, up to three times a day, and no more than 12 g in a day. The recipe below stays within that, giving two glasses from about 4 g.
The slower fridge method
Ohio State University Extension suggests that if you want to cold brew tea, do it in the refrigerator rather than on the counter or in the sun, steeping for about six hours to overnight depending on how strong you like it.
Because cold water does not kill microbes on dried herbs, the hot-brew method below is the one we recommend. If you do use the fridge method, start with very clean equipment and keep the jug cold the whole time.
Questions people ask
Can I cold brew mountain tea on the counter?
It is better not to. Extension food safety experts advise against brewing tea in cool water at room temperature or in the sun. Brew with boiling water and chill, or steep in the fridge.
How long does iced mountain tea keep?
Make only what you will drink within a few hours and keep it in the fridge. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than 8 hours, and do not drink it if it turns thick or syrupy.
Does iced mountain tea have caffeine?
No. Pure mountain tea is made only from Sideritis plants, not from the tea plant. Check the label of blends, which may include green or black tea.
Sources
- Assessment report on Sideritis scardica, S. clandestina, S. raeseri, S. syriaca, herba — European Medicines Agency
- Is Sun Tea Safe? — Live Smart Ohio, Ohio State University Extension
- The Dangers of Sun Tea — Illinois Extension
- The Acute and Chronic Cognitive and Cerebral Blood Flow Effects of a Sideritis scardica (Greek Mountain Tea) Extract — Nutrients (PMC)
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and health conditions. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before trying a herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, giving it to a child, or taking any medication.
