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14 Chinese Whole Leaf Teas Perfect for Cold Brewing in Summer
Compared to hot brewing, cold brewing makes tea taste smoother, sweeter, and less bitter, with a naturally lower caffeine content. And Chinese teas in particular offer a wide spectrum of flavors—floral, fruity, honey-like—that shine beautifully when brewed cold. But with so many varieties to choose from, which ones are the absolute best for cold brewing?
In this blog, we’ll share 14 Chinese teas that truly come alive when cold brewed, helping you keep your summer flavorful and refreshing.
1. Huangshan Maofeng
One of China’s ten famous teas, Huangshan Maofeng is celebrated for its fresh aroma and smooth, clean finish. Grown in the misty high-altitude tea gardens of Huangshan in Anhui Province (700–800m), this tea has a naturally high amino acid content. Cold brewing enhances its refreshing sweetness while keeping bitterness to a minimum, making it a light, pure, and elegant green tea perfect for summer.
2. Jasmine Green Tea
One of the most beloved floral teas in China, known for its soothing aroma and calming effect. This tea uses fresh blossoms from Hengxian in Guangxi—China’s “Jasmine Capital”, and follows the traditional scenting process five times. Cold brewing makes the aroma linger even longer, making it the ultimate pick-me-up on a hot summer day.
3. Gongmei White Tea
Originating from Fuding, Fujian, Gongmei is a traditional white tea that is neither rolled nor heavily oxidized, preserving its natural aroma and nutrients. Hot brewed, it strikes a balance between freshness and depth, with a mellow sweetness. Cold brewed, it becomes even crisper and smoother, like a cool breeze cutting through the summer heat. A must-have for beating the summer sun.
4. Huangjingui (Huang Dan)
First cultivated in the Qing dynasty, this tea is famed for its osmanthus-like fragrance, earning it the nickname “Fragrance That Reaches the Sky”. Sourced from Anxi, Fujian (800m altitude), its cold brew is golden-yellow, crystal clear, with osmanthus florals and pear-like sweetness. A jewel-like tea for summer.
5. Yongchun Fo Shou (Buddha’s Hand Oolong)
Yongchun Fo Shou is the only oolong from southern Fujian named after a fruit. According to legend, during the Kangxi era of the Qing dynasty (late 17th century), monks at Shifengyan Temple in Yongchun grafted tea branches onto Buddha’s hand citrus trees, creating a tea with leaves shaped like the fruit and a fragrance reminiscent of citrus—hence the name “Buddha’s Hand Tea.”
This particular Fo Shou, from Wuxi Village in Yongchun’s Wufeng Town, grows right next to the tea’s core origin area. Cold brewed, it reveals its signature flavor: a gentle sweetness reminiscent of crisp pear, smooth and refreshing on the palate, with a lingering aftertaste that stays long after each sip. A unique and elegant way to brighten up your summer tea moments.
6. Duck Shit Aroma (Ya Shi Xiang Dancong)
Duck Shit Aroma is one of the most beloved Phoenix Dancong oolongs—and a summertime favorite for cold brewing. Originating from Wudong Mountain in Fenghuang, Guangdong, this tea is often used as a base for refreshing tea drinks.
Cold brewed, it delivers a cooling freshness with elegant, long-lasting notes of honeysuckle. Compared with green or white teas, its flavor is fuller and more layered, making it a perfect everyday cold brew to sip your way through the heat of summer.
7. Jasmine Oolong
Here, the elegance of Tie Guan Yin meets the floral charm of jasmine through three rounds of scenting. Before you even sip, the floral aroma greets you warmly. Cold brewed, it’s crisp, refreshing, and bursting with jasmine, as if blossoms were blooming on your palate. A floral delight in every sip.
If you love teas that are light, refreshing, naturally sweet, and infused with florals or fruitiness, the seven teas above will surprise you. And if you want to try them all at once, explore our “Light & Floral Cold Brew Collection”—seven teas, seven days of unique summer aromas.
Light & Lively: Floral Cold Brew Teas | 0 Sugar · 0 Calories · 0 Additives - Whole Leaf | 14Bags
Light & Lively Floral Cold Brew Teas | 7 teas perfect for cold brewing.
Zero sugar, zero calories, no additives, low caffeine. Light floral aroma with natural sweetness, refreshing and elegant.
8. Lingtou Dancong
Also called White Leaf Dancong, this tea from Lingtou Village in Chaozhou, Guangdong, is famed for its honeyed orchid aroma. It’s one of the key cultivars behind today’s Mi Lan Xiang (Honey Orchid Dancong). Cold brewing highlights its natural sweetness, reminiscent of chilled lychee, with a gentle and long-lasting fragrance. A dream tea for lovers of honey-fruity oolongs.
9. Dianhong (Yunnan Black Tea)
Created in 1938 during wartime China, Dianhong was born to sustain tea exports and quickly gained fame as a red tea rivaling Indian and Ceylon teas. Grown in Yunnan’s high mountains (over 1,000 meters altitude), the large-leaf variety develops abundant aroma compounds thanks to dramatic day-night temperature swings. The liquor is bright red, smooth, and layered with honey, malt, and subtle fruit-floral notes. Cold brewing heightens its sweetness, making it a bold yet refreshing choice.
10. Jasmine Black Tea
Made with high-quality Dianhong as the base, this tea undergoes three rounds of jasmine scenting, using nearly twice its weight in fresh blossoms. The result is a black tea that feels like walking into a jasmine garden: rich, layered, and uplifting. Cold brewing softens its body while letting the floral-fruity character shine through, making it both elegant and satisfying.
11. Jasmine Liu Bao
From Hengxian, Guangxi, this tea fuses the earthy smoothness of aged Liu Bao with the bright sweetness of jasmine. The blossoms are carefully blended with tea leaves during the scenting process, creating a brew that is both comforting and fragrant. Cold brewed, it feels silky and full-bodied, with a creamy rice-soup texture balanced by the refreshing floral lift of jasmine—a surprising and unique cold brew.
12. Osmanthus Oolong
From Anxi, Fujian, this oolong is scented with freshly picked osmanthus flowers using traditional methods, with no artificial flavors added. Hot brewed, it’s rich and warming, with toasty notes and honeyed florals. Cold brewed, it becomes crisp and cooling, blending oolong’s depth with osmanthus brightness—an essential floral tea for summer.
13. Ruixiang (305)
A relatively modern Wuyi rock tea cultivar, Ruixiang is known for its creamy, gardenia-like aroma with hints of ripe fruit. Cold brewing transforms its classic roasted depth into something lighter yet still complex—like fire and ice meeting in one cup. A perfect companion for slow summer afternoons.
14. Oriental Beauty
Also called White-Tipped Oolong or Champagne Oolong, this tea owes its distinctive honeyed fruitiness to leafhopper bites that trigger natural flavor development. Cold brewed, its natural sweetness is magnified, with honey-grape notes shining through. Each sip feels like biting into a chilled grape—sweet, refreshing, and absolutely elegant.
If you prefer teas that are full-bodied, honeyed, and rich with fruit or floral depth, these seven teas are worth exploring. Or, try our “Smooth & Bold Cold Brew Collection”—seven teas, seven surprises, one indulgent summer journey.
Smooth & Bold: Rich Cold Brew Teas | 0 Sugar · 0 Calories · 0 Additives - Whole Leaf | 14Bags
Smooth & Bold: Rich Cold Brew Teas | 7 teas perfect for cold brewing.
Zero sugar, zero calories, no additives, low caffeine. Bold and full-bodied flavor, smooth and layered with lasting aroma.
How to Make Cold Brew Tea
Brewing cold brew tea is actually super simple— all you need is some tea, a sealed bottle, and a fridge. After that, just let time do its magic. This video shows three different cold brew methods, making it easy for you to enjoy delicious cold brew tea right at home.
(1) Room Temp Brew
1 bag + 500ml water → shake → 1 hr → ready to sip
(2) Fridge Cold Brew
1 bag + 500ml water → shake → chill 4 hrs → smooth + crisp
(3) Flash Brew Iced Tea
1 bag + hot water → 2–3 mins → add ice → instant refreshment
Read Our Latest Articles
14 Chinese Whole Leaf Teas Perfect for Cold Brewing in Summer
Benefits of Cold Brew Chinese Tea: Your Perfect Summer Tea
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