Unsweetened Cold-Brew Lemongrass Ginger Tea

This fragrant cold brew balances citrusy lemongrass with a clean ginger finish. A controlled refrigerated steep builds flavor without sweetener or countertop brewing.

Cold Brew Lemongrass Ginger Tea

• Prep: 10 minutes
• Steep: 8 hours
  

  

• Temperature: 40°F or below
• Yield: 4 cups
• Equipment: Covered glass pitcher

Ingredients

• 4 cups cold potable water
• 2 fresh lemongrass stalks
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger
• 2 plain caffeine-free herbal tea bags
• 2 strips lemon peel
• 1 cup fresh ice for serving

How to Cold-Brew the Tea

1. Clean: Wash the pitcher, lid, knife, board, sieve, and your hands. Rinse the lemongrass and ginger under running water.
2. Prepare: Trim dry lemongrass ends, remove tough outer leaves, and cut the tender portion into 2-inch pieces. Slice the unpeeled ginger thinly.
3. Bruise: Press each lemongrass piece once with the flat side of a clean knife. Do not pulverize it.
4. Combine: Add water, lemongrass, ginger, tea bags, and lemon peel to the pitcher. Cover immediately.
5. Steep: Refrigerate for exactly 8 hours at 40°F or below. Never leave the mixture on the counter.
6. Strain: Remove tea bags without squeezing. Pour through a fine clean sieve, discarding every solid.
   

   

Flavor Checklist

• Lemongrass smells fresh and citrusy.
• Ginger is firm without mold.
• The pitcher stays covered.
• Tea remains refrigerated.
• All solids are removed.

Explore our chamomile lavender cold brew, peach rooibos tea, or homemade iced tea collection.

Cold-Brew Safety and Storage

Cold brewing has no heat step. Clean equipment, potable water, continuous refrigeration, and a short storage window reduce avoidable risk.

USDA food-safety guidance recommends refrigerating perishable food promptly at 40°F or below. Discard this tea after more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour above 90°F.

• Use strained tea within 24 hours.
• Do not reuse steeped botanicals.
• Discard fizzy or unusual-smelling tea.
• Prepare ice with potable water.

Control the Ginger Heat

Thin slices expose enough surface for a warming finish without making the drink harsh. For a milder batch, use a 1/2-inch piece but keep the steeping time unchanged.

Do not grate ginger into the pitcher. Fine particles are difficult to remove completely and can make the final drink cloudy and aggressively spicy.

• Use a clean spoon to taste.
• Never return tasted tea to the pitcher.
• Dilute a strong glass with cold water.
• Add garnish only when serving.

Serving Options

• Pour over fresh ice.
• Add one clean lemon wheel.
• Serve in a prechilled glass.
• Dilute with sparkling water immediately.

Garnish only the portion being served, then return the covered pitcher to refrigeration. Fresh garnish left in storage extends plant contact and can cloud the tea.

For a consistent second batch, record the ginger weight and lemongrass size. Botanical strength varies, so measured adjustments are more reliable than extending the refrigerated steep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I steep it longer?

Eight hours is sufficient. Longer contact can draw woody notes from lemongrass and excessive heat from ginger.

Can I omit the tea bags?

Yes. The result becomes a lighter botanical infusion; keep the same refrigeration and storage rules.