Tea Bag Variations: Cold Brew, Milk Tea, and Thermos

A box of pyramid tea bags isn't just a hot cup of tea at the office. Cold brew in summer, milk tea in winter, a thermos when you're out: one tea bag can take many forms. Because the leaves in tea bags are finely broken and release flavor quickly, every method calls for slight adjustments in time and water.

How Big a Cup for One Bag?

One bag with 250–350 ml is just right; over 400 ml it gets weak, so use two bags together.

Can You Cold-Brew Tea Bags?

Yes, and it's very convenient:

1. Put one tea bag in a clean 500 ml glass bottle.
2. Fill with cool drinking water or bottled water.
3. Cap it and refrigerate for 6–8 hours.
4. Remove the tea bag, keep refrigerated, and drink within 24 hours.

For a stronger brew, use 2 bags per 500 ml. Cold brewing draws out bitterness and astringency slowly and brings sweetness to the fore: raw tea cold-brews fresh and sweet, ripe tea cold-brews warm and mellow, and both are delicious. Keep cold brew in the refrigerator the whole time; don't steep it overnight at room temperature. General guidance is in Cold-Brewing Pu'er.

Quick version: Steep one tea bag in 150 ml of hot water for 3 minutes, then pour it into a glass full of ice for an instant iced tea.

Can You Make Milk Tea?

Yes. Ripe tea works best, but raw tea works too:

1. Put 2 tea bags in a cup and pour in 200 ml of boiling water.
2. Steep 4–5 minutes, stronger than usual.
3. Lift out the tea bags (don't squeeze them) and add 100–150 ml of warm fresh milk.
4. Add brown sugar or honey to taste.

If your tea bags brew golden with a floral aroma (raw tea), the milk tea will have a lighter tea flavor; steep just 3 minutes and use a little less milk for a refreshing milk tea. If they brew deep red (ripe tea), follow the ratio above for a rich, smooth cup. More methods are in Pu'er Milk Tea.

Will a Thermos Make It Too Strong?

It will, if the tea bag stays in the cup. The water in a thermos stays hot for hours, and a tea bag left in it keeps getting stronger and more bitter. Here's how:

• Use one tea bag per 350–500 ml of boiling water;
• After 2–4 minutes, lift the bag out and put it in a small pouch or zip bag you carry with you;
• When you finish the cup, put it back in for one more steep in the afternoon.

A thermos with a strainer at the mouth is even more convenient: put the tea bag in the strainer and remove the strainer when time is up. See Thermos Brewing and Steeping.

Sparkling Pu'er

1. Steep one tea bag in 150 ml of hot water for 4 minutes and let it cool (or cold-brew 200 ml the night before).
2. Fill a glass with ice and pour in 100 ml of tea.
3. Slowly pour 150 ml of unsweetened sparkling water down the side of the glass.
4. Add a slice of lemon or orange.

More mixed drinks are in Pu'er Mixed Drinks.

Simmer a Pot

In winter, put 1–2 tea bags in 500 ml of water and simmer on low for 2–3 minutes for a warm, mellow pot of tea. Ripe tea is best for simmering; if simmering raw tea, keep it shorter.

Cut It Open and Brew in a Gaiwan

On a weekend when you want to be a bit more particular, cut open the tea bag, pour the leaves into a gaiwan, rinse once with 100–110 ml of boiling water, and pour off the first 3 infusions after about 10 seconds each. Finely broken leaves release flavor fast, so pour off quickly; with a fine-mesh strainer, the small bits won't be a problem.

A Few General Reminders

• Don't squeeze the tea bag, or bitterness and astringency will come out;
• Put the tea bag in before the water so the leaves tumble better;
• Use a steeped tea bag up the same day; don't keep it overnight;
• Drinks with milk or fruit should be finished the same day.

Guyuntang's Pu'er Pyramid Tea Bag Gift Box holds 24 bags and does not label raw and ripe separately; please go by the packaging or what our staff confirms for the actual tea type. All the methods above work for both raw and ripe; just fine-tune the time based on how the tea looks.

FAQ

Can you cold-brew tea bags? Yes. One tea bag per 500 ml of cool drinking water, refrigerated 6–8 hours; remove the bag and drink within 24 hours.

Can you make milk tea? Yes. Steep 2 tea bags in 200 ml of boiling water for 4–5 minutes and add 100–150 ml of warm fresh milk; for raw tea, steep shorter and use less milk.

Will a thermos make it too strong? If the bag stays in, it keeps getting stronger; take the bag out after 2–4 minutes and re-steep in the afternoon.

How big a cup for one bag? 250–350 ml is just right; above 400 ml, use two bags together.