Finding the perfect refreshing glass for summer is essential for those long hot days. From pairing well with your favorite foods and flavors to hydrating you, the right tea can help make summer not just bearable but actually enjoyable. In this guide, we ranked and reviewed the best teas for iced tea. 

If you want to get some for yourself, we have a collection of the best teas for iced tea right here in tea bags, loose leaf, or iced tea pouches.

What is the Best Tea for Iced Tea?

1. Yaupon Tea

Yaupon is the only naturally caffeinated plant native to North America. This means that unlike other teas that are traditionally made with Camellia sinensis, yaupon has unique properties in addition to caffeine. One of these is the pairing with theobromine (the same compound found in chocolate that boosts your mood). When combined with caffeine, theobromine improves performance while minimizing susceptibility to distractions.

Benefits:

• Easy to brew simply by adding hot water and then icing down or even cold-brewing overnight with cold water.
• Gives the gentle boost of energy from caffeine tempered by an interaction with polyphenols that can reduce the negative effects on mood.
• Enjoy sweet, smooth tea since yaupon lacks tannins and won't become bitter. So you can't overstep it and you can reuse the leaves for more delicious yaupon!
• Keep your tea clear and delicious as yaupon lacks the tea creaming properties of many traditional teas.

Side Effects:

• May increase sleeplessness if consumed in large quantities.

Try our CatSpring Yaupon tea for a clean, refreshing glass. It’s organic, non-gmo, kosher, sustainably grown, and naturally caffeinated.

2. Black Tea

Black tea has a fuller, darker, and slightly more astringent flavor profile, similar to a cup of coffee. It’s possible to cut through the slight bite of astringency with milk, cream, or your favorite sweetener and many summer favorites (including many boba teas) are made with a black tea base. Black teas also taste delicious brewed with fruity flavors such as citrus.

Benefits:

• Taste great iced and mixed with your favorite flavors such as fresh mint leaves, citrus, and honey.
• Supports your immune system with lots of antioxidants that protect your cells from damage that can lead to chronic diseases.
• Promotes a healthy heart through flavonoids which can reduce risk factors for heart disease. 

Side Effects:

• May increase sleeplessness due to caffeine if consumed in large quantities.

3. Green Tea

Green tea has not undergone the oxidation process that creates black tea and oolong teas. It tends to have a lighter flavor profile and appearance due to the lack of oxidation. Usually, green tea steeps for a shorter period of time than black teas as steeping too long draws out tannins that can make the brew bitter. It has lots of antioxidants that protect the body and boost the immune system, while also decreasing inflammation and irritation.

Benefits:

• Enjoy a light flavor with an earthier flavor profile that complements simple syrup or natural sweeteners such as honey well.
• Improve focus and attention due to the cooperation between l-theanine and caffeine.
• Have fresher breath as green tea catechins kill bacteria common in the mouth that are responsible for bad breath. 

Side Effects:

• May increase sleeplessness if consumed in large amounts.

4. Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea is made from steeping parts of the hibiscus plant in hot water. It creates a distinctive, beautifully vibrant, fuschia colored brew. Oftentimes the brew has a taste profile similar to cranberries, with a slight sweetness and a bit of bitterness, and can be enjoyed hot or cold. Some animal studies have shown that hibiscus tea can increase antioxidant activity, though these results are still being researched in humans.

Benefits:

• Brew with ease and complement its sweet undertones with a favorite sweetener such as honey.

• Boost your immune system and remove toxins with the powerful antioxidants including vitamin C and beta-carotene.

• Fight off bacteria with potential antibacterial properties seen in animal studies and that indicate hibiscus tea can reduce bloating, gas, and cramping.

Side Effects:

• May interact with medicines like acetaminophen if consumed in very large quantities.

5. Matcha Tea

Matcha tea is a powdered green tea, made from grinding the entire green tea leaf in a hand mill. Because it uses the whole tea leaf and because it’s shaded for the latter part of its growing, matcha has a higher concentration of many of the benefits of tea including caffeine. It produces a more relaxed boost of energy and focus. The flavor profile is more of a grassy flavor.

Benefits:

• Can make a cool iced latte when combined with your favorite type of milk.

• Increased mental acuity thanks to the caffeine though with a more calming effect than the caffeine in coffee.

• Bolster your immune system with catechins and polyphenols that have antioxidant properties.

Side Effects:

• Can cause an upset stomach due to tannins if consumed on an empty stomach.

6. Rooibos

Originating in Africa and now popular worldwide, it’s a caffeine-free alternative to traditional black tea and even similarly often undergoes oxidation though unlike black tea it is also often fermented. It has an earthy flavor that can be similar to yerba mate. Your brew is less likely to be bitter too because rooibos has less tannins than other teas.

Benefits:

• Enjoy a refreshing tea without the caffeine.

• Protect your body with antioxidants that remove free radicals and protect your healthy cells and organs.

• Support heart health as some studies show that rooibos may inhibit an enzyme that increases blood pressure.

Side Effects:

• Can increase production of estrogen slightly due to some of the compounds present.

7. Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea has a signature minty flavor due to its easy brewing using mint leaves. This menthol based flavor can help clear out sinuses and make it easier to breathe while also freshening your breath instantly. There is also research that suggests it can also kill germs that cause dental plaque, helping protect your teeth. A refreshing glass that has a cooling effect, this is a yummy option for those warm summer days.

Benefits:

• Easy to complement the flavor with ginger, honey, or fruits to find a delicious cup for anytime.

• Ease headaches as peppermint is a natural muscle relaxant while the menthol increases blood flow that creates a cooling sensation.

• Decrease nasal congestion in large part due to the vapors that increase the perception of airflow, easing congestion pain and discomfort.

Side Effects:

• Can worsen acid reflux by relaxing the muscles around the stomach sphincter.

The Bottom Line

Owing to their great, refreshing tastes and incredible health-boosting properties, these are some of the best teas for iced tea. They can complement your favorite summertime flavors for a perfect icy glass on any hot summer day.

If you want to get our best tasting tea for iced tea, check out our organic, naturally caffeinated CatSpring Yaupon tea here.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. If you have serious health-related issues you should reach out to a medical professional. While we have studied the scientific research available, this is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.