It is scrumptious and packs a hydrating, antioxidant punch—in accordance with nutritionists
(Photograph: Chilly-Brew Tea Latte: Ashia Aubourg; Design: Ayana Underwood/Canva)
Printed September 26, 2025 03:00AM
Y’all know me. At any time when a meals pattern begins going viral on TikTok, I leap in and check it so that you don’t need to. This time, whereas scrolling, I finished mid-swipe after seeing individuals dunking handfuls of tea baggage into half-gallons of milk. The funky-looking concoction everybody’s obsessive about? Chilly-Brew Tea Lattes.
Not like your typical cold-brew, this drink doesn’t contain espresso in any respect (or caffeine, relying on the tea you select). As a substitute, it turns that field of tea baggage in your cupboard into one thing completely new. Mixing them with milk creates a café-style latte that feels barista-made with out the hassle. Prep solely takes a couple of seconds, and the fridge handles the remaining.
Most TikTok meals traits make me skeptical, however this one felt totally different. I already love iced tea lattes, akin to matcha, so this hack caught my consideration. Nonetheless, I had questions, as a result of as an out of doors fanatic, I puzzled if this might work as a simple strategy to gas up earlier than heading outdoor. I interviewed a couple of specialists to seek out out.
For Hikes and Tenting, Select Teas That Sharpen Focus and Scale back Irritation
“If you wish to do that tea pattern earlier than a hike or tenting journey, take into account what you’re in search of in your cup,” says Rhyan Geiger, a registered dietitian primarily based in Phoenix, Arizona.
Planning to sort out rocky or uneven trails? Geiger recommends brews wealthy in L-theanine, akin to inexperienced and yellow tea (a barely fermented tea), which can sharpen focus and increase alertness throughout difficult hikes.
However Claire Rifkin, a registered dietitian primarily based in New York Metropolis, factors out that caffeine acts as a diuretic and might make it is advisable pee extra, which isn’t precisely splendid while you’re out in the course of nature.
For caffeine-free choices that also supply help on the path, Geiger recommends natural teas. For instance, each ginger and chamomile tea have been proven to fight irritation, making them useful if you end up getting sore within the wild. Natural teas may also push back fatigue—one other sensible profit while you’re on a protracted trek.
Easy methods to Get the Most Out of This Chilly Brew Tea Pattern, In accordance with Nutritionists
“One strategy to make this pattern extra nutritious is by focusing in your milk selection,” says Geiger. For anybody seeking to improve protein consumption—which helps muscle restore and restoration after strenuous exercise—soy milk delivers about eight grams of protein per cup.
Your milk selection also can influence your power stage. In accordance with Geiger, the pure sugars in dairy, almond, oat, or soy milk can provide you a quick fuel-up earlier than hitting the path.
To spherical issues out, Rifkin recommends bringing alongside a supply of carbs when heading out together with your chilly brew. A banana or in a single day oats work properly. Paired with the protein and fats from the milk, you’ll create a extra balanced supply of power, she explains.
Easy methods to Make a Chilly-Brew Tea Latte

Servings: 8 ounces
Prep Time: 5 minutes (plus 8 hours chilling)
Whole Length: 8 hours 5 minutes
Components
- 3 tea baggage of your selection
- 8 ounces milk (dairy or plant-based)
- Optionally available: 1 teaspoon of sweetener of your selection (Think about using monk fruit sweetener or coconut nectar; honey works, too).
Recipe
- Pour milk right into a jar or insulated cup with a lid.
- Add tea baggage to the milk.
- If utilizing a sweetener, stir it in gently.
- Safe with a lid and refrigerate for at the very least 8 hours or in a single day.
- Take away tea baggage earlier than ingesting.
The Verdict: Low Raise, Excessive Reward
I not too long ago traveled to the Algarve area in Portugal and deliberate to glamp in an space with out easy accessibility to cafés, that means no iced latte stops. Since I had a foraging hike scheduled, it was the proper time to do that chilly brew tea hack.
Happily, an area market close by had all of the fundamentals: soy milk, tea, and honey. At house, I often have these staples available, so it was reassuring to see that this recipe solely requires on a regular basis pantry and fridge staples.
I selected two sorts of tea: Hibiscus for its tart, fruity taste and Earl Gray for its antioxidant energy.
The night time earlier than the hike, I prepped each teas. The following day, they had been chilled and prepared. I’m a two-beverage individual within the mornings and often attain for an iced matcha and a smoothie, so bringing each teas alongside suits properly into my A.M. routine. With a three-hour hike forward, I deliberate to hydrate early with these lattes.
Two hours in, I nonetheless didn’t really feel thirsty, which is uncommon for me on lengthy hikes. Extra spectacular than the hydration, although, was how good the lattes tasted. That they had a delicate taste; the hibiscus supplied mild floral and honeyed notes, whereas the Earl Gray introduced out earthy and heat spice flavors. Making an attempt one thing totally different from my typical iced matcha or decaf latte turned out to be a scrumptious shift from my typical routine.
I’ve a couple of distant journeys developing this fall, and I’ll undoubtedly deliver this chilly brew tea hack with me. It’s a easy, satisfying strategy to take pleasure in an iced latte without having a café close by, and it delivers a couple of nourishing perks alongside the best way.
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