Cold Brewing 'Amber Sunrise' Aged Sun-dried Black Tea Cake

Summer is heating up with some of its hottest days, and this week we wanted to try drinking something refreshing. We decided to celebrate the summer by cold-brewing our 'Amber Sunrise' sun-dried black tea cake.

What is Cold Brewing?

Cold brew tea is a simple and delicious way to enjoy tea, especially during hot days. Unlike iced tea, which is made by brewing tea hot and then cooling it down with ice, cold brew is made by steeping tea leaves directly in cold water for several hours.

Thanks to the slow extraction process, the tea is smoother and balanced, sweeter and less astringent than traditional hot tea. It's also a lot more forgiving as there's less risk of over-steeping. With iced tea, you have to deal with several variables: the quantity of tea, steeping time, water temperature, and the amount of ice to add. Cold brew, on the other hand, simply requires adjusting the tea quantity and steeping time. Once you've settled these two, you'll always enjoy a fantastic cup of cold-brewed tea.

How to Cold Brew Amber Sunrise Tea Cake

Here's the method we recommend for cold-brewing our Amber Sunrise black tea.

What You'll Need:

• 4 g (1 tsp) of Amber Sunrise tea leaves
• 500 ml (17 oz) of cold or room temperature water
• A bottle or pitcher with a lid
• A fine strainer or tea filter (if the bottle doesn't have it)

We recommend using the Amber Sunrise big cake (200g) for cold brew, as the mini-cakes (7g) are more tightly compressed and take longer to infuse in cold water.

Cold-Brewing Black Tea Steps

1. Use 4 grams of tea leaves and place them in a bottle, teapot or pitcher with lid. Make sure to loosen up the tea leaves to allow for a better infusion.
2. Add water and put the lid back on the teapot, pitcher or close the bottle.
3. Place it in the fridge and let it steep for 6–8 hours.
4. Gently stir the tea to ensure the taste is even.
5. Strain out the tea leaves, pour yourself a glass, and enjoy!

Tips

• For a stronger brew, use 5 grams of tea.
• Add some honey and one or two slices of lemon if you're craving a classic lemon ice tea.

Tasting Notes: Cold Brew Aged Sun-Dried Black Tea

To reach the perfect cold-brewed Amber Sunrise, we tasted the tea at different stages of the infusion process.

After three hours:

The tea already has a delicate colour, and the aroma is light but promising. Subtle notes of honey, lychee, and stone fruits are starting to emerge.

After six hours:

The tea has a golden liquor and a pleasant taste, with delightful fruity notes and a hint of licorice and woody undertones. The honey and lychee sweetness is well distinct. If you prefer a light cold brew, this could already be the perfect infusion.

After eight hours:

The tea is rich, sweet, and full-bodied, with a thick, round mouthfeel. The complex aroma includes hints of wood, peaches, red flowers, berries, and lychee. You could cold brew Amber Sunrise even for a couple of more hours, but it could lead to a slight over-steeping.

Final Thoughts

Compared to hot brewing, the cold-brewed Amber Sunrise black tea is slightly sweeter, with its fruitiness enhanced. Anyway, the woody and smoky character is still there, lingering in the background. We believe the ideal steeping time is about six to eight hours, depending on your taste. You can also steep it overnight and, if you find it too strong, simply add cold water to dilute it.

We are satisfied with how this black tea turned out when cold-brewed. With its body and mouthfeel, this tea stands alone, but we believe it can also serve as an excellent base for cold brew blends with fruits and herbs. Experiment, and if you like, share your thoughts with us by submitting a review from the Amber Sunrise page.