Say goodbye to watered-down iced tea! These Iced Tea Cubes are an easy way to keep your favorite drinks cold without diluting their flavor. Whether you're sipping on iced matcha, fruity teas, milk tea, lemonade, or sparkling water, using frozen tea cubes adds an extra layer of depth and visual appeal.
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Why you'll love this recipe
No more diluted tea: your drink stays strong and flavorful.
Customizable: try it with green tea, matcha, black tea, oolong, or herbal teas.
Great for any type of iced drink: including milk teas, sparkling teas, or fruity infusions.
Make ahead of time: they’re great for batch-prepping ahead and are a creative way to use up leftover brewed tea.
Special equipment you'll need
- ice cube trays: I prefer silicone molds as they release with ease, but you can use standard plastic ice cube trays as well
Ingredients you'll need
- hot water
- tea bags or loose leaf tea: use your favorite tea
- sweetener: eg. honey, simple syrup, maple syrup; optional, to your taste
OR use a cold brew tea instead.
How to make iced tea cubes
Brew the tea:
Bring water to a boil (or to an appropriate temperature for your tea).
Steep tea bags or loose leaf tea in the hot water for 5 minutes. Stir in sweetener if desired.
*It's better to steep the tea a little stronger than how you'd normally enjoy it, as the flavor will mellow out when frozen.
Let cool.
Or: use a cold brew tea (since cold brew is milder, you can increase the number of tea bags to make it a little more stronger in flavor).
Pour into molds:
Pour the cooled tea into ice cube trays or silicone molds.
Add any optional garnishes like mint, flowers, or fruit pieces, if you wish.
Freeze:
Place into the freezer for at least 4-6 hours or until completely frozen.
How to use frozen tea cubes
Pop out the tea ice cubes and use in your favorite drinks.
Add it to sparkling water, lemonade, milk tea, or even fruit juice blends.
Tea ice cube flavor pairings
Jasmine: lychee green tea, citrus drinks
Matcha: milk, coconut, fruit (strawberry) or yuzu drinks
Earl Grey: lemonade, honey, sparkling water
Hojicha: milk
Hibiscus: berry teas, fruit, sparkling sodas
Expert tips
For layered drinks: freeze different teas in separate trays for contrast (e.g. matcha + milk).
Make ahead: brew extra tea whenever you’re making a large pot and freeze the leftovers.
Mini cubes: use smaller trays if you want faster-melting, subtle flavor release.
Flavor boosters: add herbs like mint, citrus zest, flowers, or dried fruit to the tea before freezing for a visual and aromatic touch.
Make it stronger: brew the tea a little stronger than you’d normally drink -- it’ll taste just right as it melts.
Use silicone trays for easier release. If using plastic molds, you can let them thaw for 1 or 2 minutes at room temperature before popping them out.
Label the trays: if making multiple batches of tea ice cubes (eg. black, green, jasmine, etc).
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Iced Tea Cubes
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 2 cups hot water
- 4 tea bags or 4 tablespoon loose leaf tea choose your favorite tea
- 1-2 teaspoon sweetener of your choice (honey, sugar, maple syrup) optional
Instructions
Brew the tea:
- Bring water to a boil (or to an appropriate temperature for your tea).
- Steep tea bags or loose leaf tea in the hot water for 5 minutes. Stir in sweetener if desired.
- *Note: It's better to steep the tea a little stronger than how you'd normally enjoy it, as the flavor will mellow out when frozen.
- Let the tea cool.
- Or: use a cold brew tea (since cold brew is mild, you can increase the number of tea bags to make it a little more strong).
Pour into molds:
- Pour the cooled tea into ice cube trays or silicone molds.
- Add any optional garnishes like mint or fruit pieces.
Freeze:
- Place in the freezer for at least 4-6 hours or until completely frozen.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
Heidi
Your method for transforming tea into ice cubes is pure genius! Also, I loved your cute ideas for adding some fun garnishes to the ice cubes. This gives iced tea such a fun, playful twist!!
Michelle
Thanks Heidi, it is such a great way to keep iced tea from being diluted! 😀
David @ Spiced
I love this idea! It only takes a little bit of extra work, but it helps avoid the watery iced teas which inevitably arrive on hot summer days. Pure genius!!
Michelle
Indeed, the hot days of summer are coming so this is a guaranteed great way of ensuring strong iced tea! 😀 Thanks David.
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
Great idea! I often make ice cubes infused with coffee, juices, and even alcohol (just a little drizzle, otherwise they won't freeze). But I don't think I've ever done that with tea. This is a genius summer tip.
Michelle
Glad to hear that, Ben!! Enjoy!