How to Make Iced Tea with Loose Leaf Tea
At the Drunken Duck Farm, we believe tea should be strong enough to stand up and do a little tap dance on your tongue—but refreshing enough to make you forget it’s hotter than a billy goat in a pepper patch. Whether you’re fancying a floral farm-fresh infusion, a bold backyard brew, or a sweet-as-sin southern-style sweet tea, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s spill the tea (literally) on how to make iced tea using loose leaf blends—the proper way. None of that dusty bag nonsense here. We grow our herbs with love, dry ’em with care, and blend ’em to make your mason jars sing.
☀️ Sun Tea: The Lazy Duck Method
Sun tea is like farm life—it takes patience, sunshine, and a little trust in Mother Nature (and a very clean container).
How to Make Sun Tea:
- Fill a large glass jar (preferably a gallon size) with cold water.
- Add 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea per quart of water (4 tablespoons for a gallon). Use a reusable tea bag, cheesecloth, or a fine mesh infuser if you don’t want to sip twigs.
- Set it in direct sunlight for 3–5 hours.
- Once brewed, strain the tea (if needed), pop it in the fridge, and serve over ice.
Pro Tip: Only keep sun tea for 48 hours. We’re going for refreshment, not fermentation.
🔥 Hot Brewed Iced Tea: For Impatient Ducks
Want your tea now, not later? This one’s for you.
How to Make Iced Tea with Hot Water:
- Boil your water and pour it over 1 tsp loose tea per 8 oz cup (or 4–5 tsp per quart if making a pitcher or 4-5 tbs per gallon).
- Steep for 5–7 minutes (or follow the specific steep time for your tea type).
- Strain out the tea and let it cool slightly.
- Pour over a pitcher full of ice, or refrigerate until chilled.
This method pulls out stronger flavors, perfect for bold blends like black tea or spicy herbals.
🍯 Sweetness Levels: Choose Your Duck Sugar Scale
Look, we won’t sugarcoat it—unless you ask us to. Here’s the breakdown of sweet tea styles:
Lightly Sweet Tea (A Gentle Peck of Sugar):
- Add 1–2 tablespoons of sugar per quart of tea.
- Best for herbal or floral blends where you don’t want to drown the flavor.
Sweet Tea (Like Grandma’s Porch Style):
- Add 1/4 cup sugar per quart of hot tea while it’s still warm so it dissolves properly.
Southern-Style Sweet Tea (Hold Onto Your Beak):
- Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar per quart of hot tea.
- Yes, really. This is not a drill. It should be sweet enough to make your teeth hum Dixie.
Want a fancier twist? Try honey, maple syrup, or a dash of lavender sugar. We won’t stop you. We might even cheer.
Bonus Duck Tips:
🫙 Storage: Store your iced tea in the fridge in a sealed jar or pitcher. Herbal teas keep for up to 4 days; black or green teas are best in 2–3.
🧊 Serving Style: Serve over ice, garnish with a lemon wedge, mint sprig, or edible flower for full farm fantasy.
🧃 Flavor Boosts: Add sliced fruit (hello, strawberries and peaches), a splash of lemonade, or even freeze tea in ice cube trays to keep your glass strong, not watered down.
Ready to Brew?
From minty porch blends to our moody moon teas, our loose leaf beauties were born to chill.
So grab your jars, your tea, and your sass—and brew yourself a farm-fresh glass of summer.
| Drunken Duck Tea | Description | Top Flavor Notes | Quack-Approved Brewing Method | Brew-Boosting Bonuses |
| Bloom & Breathe | A gentle garden breeze in a cup – sip, sigh, and let your worries wilt | Chamomile, lemon balm, calendula | Sun Tea | Honey or lemon |
| Cherry on Top Shelf | A wink at cherries and top-shelf bourbon with lovely vanilla undertones | Cherry, vanilla, bourbon | Sweet Tea | Splash of bourbon or vanilla syrup |
| Chromagic Steep | Not every queen wears blue on the outside. It tastes blue. It steeps blue. It just doesn’t show off until you add citrus. | Butterfly pea flower, lavender, citrus | Sun Tea | Lemon slice or lemonade to activate color |
| Elder Be Thy Name | A bold, berry-rich brew kissed with spices- cozy, comforting, and just a little bewitching. | Elderberry, cinnamon, holy basil | Sweet Tea | Honey, splash of apple cider vinegar |
| Glow Duck Glow | You’ Lemon be real- this sunny steep brings the zest and the rest. Sip, shine, and quack on. | Lemongrass, lemon peel, calendula | Sun Tea | Lemon wedge, honey, or iced vodka |
| Grateful-Tea | An herbal blend that’s basil-cally a thank-you in a teacup. Sip with a full heart and a calm nervous system. | Purple basil, elderberry, clover | Sun Tea | Honey, clover syrup, or berry garnish |
| Heartbeet & Soul | This Crimson queen brings the berry drama and a whole lotta soul. | Hibiscus, berry, beetroot | Sweet Tea | Squeeze of orange, raw sugar, or spiced rum |
| Mint Julep Tea | A porch sippin, hat tippin blend of mint and green tea with a whisper of bourbon to keep things interesting | Mint, green tea, bourbon flavor | Traditional Unsweet Tea | Mint sprig, simple syrup, or bourbon |
| Petal Punch | A blooming burst of floral flavor, ready to knock your taste buds off their stems! | Rose petals, hibiscus, orange peel | Sun Tea | Sparkling water, citrus zest, or edible flowers |
| Ginger Tease Tea | A zesty little number with citrus curves and spicy comebacks. | Ginger, orange peel, lemon verbena | Sweet Tea | Honey, orange slice, or ginger liqueur |
| Sereni-tea Now! | Mint to be mellow. Green, Grounded, and here for your ‘do not disturb’ mood. | Green tea, mint, lemongrass | Traditional Unsweet Tea | Honey, cucumber, or mint ice cubes |
| Southern Porch Tea | Juicy peach, zesty lemon, and lavender. | Peach, lemon zest, lavender | Sweet Tea | Peach slices, lemon wedge, or brown sugar syrup |
