When the summer heat hits, nothing feels better than a refreshing glass of cold brew tea. You can enjoy the pure taste of tea by simply cold brewing the leaves, or you can take it a step further—add fruits, honey, dried herbs, or mint to create something even more fun and flavorful.
In this post, I’ll share 7 simple and beautiful cold brew recipes that are easy to make and perfect for summer. Each one has its own unique twist, so you can stay cool and enjoy your tea in a whole new way.
Why Cold Brew Chinese Whole Leaf Tea?
- Smoother taste – Cold water extracts fewer bitter compounds, so the tea tastes naturally sweet and mellow.
- Lower caffeine – Cold brews generally have less caffeine, making them gentler for all-day sipping.
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0 sugar, 0 calories, 0 additives - Whole leaf tea is just tea, and the brewed tea contains almost no calories and no added flavors, colors, or sweeteners.
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More refreshing – Served chilled, it’s the ultimate summer pick-me-up.
- Endless creativity – You can easily mix in fruits, herbs, or flowers to create new flavors.
1. Pomegranate Jasmine Green Tea
A gorgeous-looking drink with layers of flavor. The rich floral aroma of jasmine blends with the natural sweetness of fresh pomegranate juice. No sugar needed, it’s already pleasantly sweet, with a subtle tea finish. One sip feels like stepping into a garden full of jasmine blossoms.
What you’ll need: Half a pomegranate, Jasmine green tea
How to make it:
① Brew a cup of Jasmine green tea (cold brew for 6+ hours, 1:100 tea-to-water ratio; or hot brew for 1 minute and chill with ice).
② In a shaker, crush pomegranate seeds to release the juice. Add a little syrup if you like, plus the tea and some ice. Shake well.
③ In your glass, add large ice cubes, pour in half a cup of pomegranate juice, then top with Jasmine green tea.
2. Sweet Pear Osmanthus Oolong
The juicy sweetness of pear meets the smooth richness of oolong, all lifted by the fragrant aroma of osmanthus flowers. Drinking this feels like strolling under an osmanthus tree in bloom—sweet, floral, and comforting.
What you’ll need: Osmanthus oolong, 1 pear
How to make it:
① Brew a cup of Osmanthus oolong (cold brew 6+ hours, or hot brew and chill with ice).
② Blend half a pear into juice.
③ In a glass, add ice, half a cup of pear juice, a splash of syrup if you want, and fill up with the tea. Garnish with pear slices or leaves.
3. Green Grape Lemon Jasmine Oolong
Bright and refreshing. The tartness of lemon is softened by the sweetness of grapes, creating a balanced sweet-sour taste. As the drink settles, jasmine notes come through, followed by a smooth oolong finish. A perfect palate cleanser on hot days.
What you’ll need: Green grapes, lemon, Jasmine oolong
How to make it:
① Brew a cup of Jasmine oolong (cold brew 6+ hours, or hot brew and chill with ice).
② In a shaker, crush about 15 grapes and 2 lemon slices with a little tea and ice. Shake well.
③ Pour the juice mix into your glass, then top with the tea. Garnish with lemon slices.
4. Peach Oolong (with Huang Jin Gui)
The sweetness of peach pairs beautifully with the floral aroma of Huang Jin Gui oolong, which has a natural osmanthus-like fragrance. The result is a layered, fragrant tea that tastes sweet yet light.
What you’ll need: Huang Jin Gui oolong, 1 peach
How to make it:
① Brew a cup of Huang Jin Gui (cold brew 6+ hours, or hot brew and chill with ice).
② Blend peach into juice, strain out pulp, then shake with a splash of tea and ice.
③ Add a layer of peach pulp to your glass, some ice, half a cup of peach juice, and finish with tea. Garnish with peach slices.
5. Pineapple White Tea
The first sip brings out the clean fragrance of white tea. In the middle, the flavors of white tea and lemon come together, adding a refreshing citrus brightness. The finish is lightly sweet with a touch of pineapple. What’s surprising is that instead of overpowering the tea, the pineapple actually makes the tea taste even clearer and more layered—like a cool summer breeze with just a hint of sweetness
What you’ll need: Half a pineapple, Gong Mei white tea, lemon
How to make it:
① Brew Gong Mei (cold brew 6+ hours, or hot brew and chill with ice).
② In a shaker, crush pineapple chunks and lemon slices, add ice and tea, and shake well.
③ Pour into a glass with ice, garnish with pineapple slices.
6. Blueberry Lemon Oolong (Yongchun Fo Shou)
This cold brew has a truly unique character. The distinctive aroma of Yongchun Fo Shou oolong—often compared to bergamot—blends with the tartness of lemon to create a refreshingly crisp flavor. It leaves your whole mouth feeling cool, while the gentle sweetness of blueberries slowly unfolds, adding layers of taste with every sip.
What you’ll need: Blueberries, lemon, and Yongchun Fo Shou oolong
How to make it:
① Brew Yongchun Fo Shou (cold brew 6+ hours, or hot brew and chill with ice).
② In a shaker, crush about 20 blueberries and 2 lemon slices with tea and ice. Shake well.
③ In a glass with ice, pour half blueberry-lemon juice, then fill with tea. Garnish with lemon.
7. Salted Plum Green Tea
This cold brew tastes like summer by the sea. The light saltiness of preserved plums blends seamlessly with the refreshing notes of Huangshan Maofeng green tea, all lifted by the chill of ice—it feels like a cool ocean breeze rushing over you. The gentle sweetness of the plums, together with a hint of fruity notes from the tea, gives way to a subtle green tea bitterness at the finish, leaving a refreshing aftertaste that lingers on the palate.
What you’ll need: Salted plums, Huangshan Maofeng green tea, lemon
How to make it:
① Brew a cup of Huangshan Maofeng (cold brew 6+ hours, or hot brew and chill with ice).
② Soak 4–6 salted plums in hot water for 5 minutes. Remove plums, let the water cool.
③ In a shaker, mix one-third salted plum water with two-thirds tea, plus lemon slices. Shake well.
④ Pour over ice, and you’re done.
