Ceylon Spice Garden
Ceylon Iced Tea Loose Leaf — Cold Brew & Sweet Tea Blend
Ceylon Iced Tea Loose Leaf — Cold Brew & Sweet Tea Blend
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Before iced tea was America's drink, it was Ceylon's leaf. At the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, a sweltering summer crowd wouldn't touch hot tea — so the tea pavilion poured it over ice, and iced tea went national. The leaf in those cups was promoted by the Ceylon and India tea trade. This is that tradition, farm-direct: bright, brisk Ceylon black tea, cut for cold brewing.
Why Ceylon makes the best iced tea
Iced tea punishes weak leaf. Chilling mutes flavor, ice dilutes it, and cheap tea turns cloudy and flat. Ceylon black tea is the classic answer — famously bright, brisk and clear when chilled, with a clean citrusy edge that stays crisp instead of going bitter. It's why Ceylon built its reputation in American pitchers a century before "cold brew" was a word.
Two ways to brew it
🧊 Cold brew (the foolproof way)
- Add 2 tablespoons (~8 g) of leaf per quart of cold water in a pitcher.
- Refrigerate 8–12 hours (overnight is perfect).
- Strain and serve over ice. Cold brewing extracts less tannin, so it's naturally smooth — many people skip sugar entirely.
☀️ Classic Southern sweet tea (hot brew, fast)
- Steep 4 tablespoons per quart of hot water for 4–5 minutes — deliberately double-strength.
- Stir in sugar while hot (½–¾ cup per gallon, to taste).
- Pour over a full pitcher of ice. Lemon wheel optional, porch mandatory.
Make it a color show
Iced tea is where our flowers shine: brew a pitcher of ruby hibiscus (see our agua de jamaica-style recipe), or an indigo butterfly pea batch that turns violet-pink with lemon. Mix a "sunset pitcher" with layers of all three.
What you're getting
| Leaf | Pure Ceylon black tea, smaller broken-leaf cut chosen for fast, even extraction in cold water |
| Origin | Sri Lanka, single origin, farm-direct |
| Caffeine | Naturally contains caffeine (black tea); cold brew extracts somewhat less than hot |
| Yield | ~12 quarts per 100 g — a bag is a summer |
| Testing | Third-party lab-tested batches — see our certificates |
| Shipping | Tracked DHL/UPS to the USA, typical delivery 8–12 days |
FAQ
Why does my iced tea go cloudy?
Cloudiness happens when hot-brewed tea is chilled too fast — tannins bind and precipitate. Two fixes: cold brew instead (never clouds), or let hot-brewed tea cool to room temperature before refrigerating. Good leaf clouds less; this one stays notably clear.
Is this the same as your Orange Pekoe loose leaf?
Same single-origin Ceylon character, different cut: our Orange Pekoe is whole-leaf, graded for hot brewing; this is a smaller broken-leaf cut that extracts fully in cold water. If you mostly drink your tea hot, choose the Orange Pekoe; for pitchers, choose this.
How long does a pitcher keep?
3–4 days refrigerated. Unsweetened keeps its brightness longest; sweet tea is best inside 2–3 days.
Was iced tea really invented with Ceylon tea?
Iced tea existed in America earlier, but the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair is where it went mainstream — the fair's tea concession, promoting Ceylon and India teas, famously served it iced during a heat wave and the habit stuck. Ceylon leaf has been the classic pitcher tea ever since.
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Why Choose Ceylon Spice Garden?
Discover the difference that authentic Ceylon spices can make in your culinary journey
25+ Years of Excellence
With over 25 years of expertise in sourcing and processing authentic Ceylon spices, we bring you the finest quality directly from Sri Lankan gardens.
Premium Quality Guaranteed
Every spice is carefully selected, processed, and packaged to maintain maximum freshness, flavor, and nutritional value. We guarantee the highest standards.
Fast & Reliable Shipping
Our efficient logistics network ensures your spices reach you fresh and on time, with tracking available for all orders worldwide.
100% Authentic Ceylon
Sourced directly from certified organic farms in Sri Lanka, our spices are 100% authentic Ceylon varieties with unmatched flavor profiles.
Let customers speak for us
I received my order and am very pleased with it, and the added gift that came with. I do apologize about my last 1 star review, I feel foolish about it. Thank you all very much for the Lotus.
Most flavoured greens are either too sweet or taste artificial — soursop is hard to fake and easy to overdo. This blend gets it right. The Ceylon green tea base is clean and slightly grassy, and the soursop comes through as a delicate creamy-fruity aromatic on top. Beautifully done and genuinely refreshing.
Cold brewed overnight and it's incredible. Subtle fruit, smooth green tea finish.
This is my morning cup now. Gentle caffeine, lovely flavour, genuinely good for me.
Even my husband who normally hates herbal tea drinks this one. The green tea base helps.
Soft, smooth, fragrant. A pleasure morning or afternoon.
Brews clean even with a slightly long steep. A forgiving tea, which I appreciate.
Try it cold. I steep a heaped tablespoon in cold filtered water in the fridge overnight, strain in the morning, serve over ice. Genuinely incredible — smooth, slightly sweet from the soursop, never bitter. My summer drink of choice now.
Hint of fruit, smooth green tea body, no bitterness when brewed properly.
I've now experimented with this in roughly every way you can brew tea. Hot at 80°C for two minutes — clean, light, soursop subtle on top. Hot at 90°C for five minutes — bigger soursop note, slightly fuller body, never bitter (this blend is unusually forgiving). Cold brew overnight — my favourite, smooth and faintly sweet. Iced with mint and a slice of lime — incredible summer drink. Multiple cooking methods, all give a different lovely result. The leaf clearly has a lot to give. This is now my permanent green tea.
Most flavoured greens are either too sweet or taste artificial — soursop is hard to fake and easy to overdo. This blend gets it right. The Ceylon green tea base is clean and slightly grassy, and the soursop comes through as a delicate creamy-fruity aromatic on top. Beautifully done and genuinely refreshing.
Soft soursop fragrance over a clean Ceylon green base. Refreshing and unusual.
Long whole green tea leaves, recognisable pieces of soursop leaf, no twigs or dust. Loose leaf done properly. A heaped teaspoon makes a generous pot.
Most flavoured greens are too sweet or artificial. This is clean and natural.
I've now experimented with this in roughly every way you can brew tea. Hot at 80°C for two minutes — clean, light, soursop subtle on top. Hot at 90°C for five minutes — bigger soursop note, slightly fuller body, never bitter (this blend is unusually forgiving). Cold brew overnight — my favourite, smooth and faintly sweet. Iced with mint and a slice of lime — incredible summer drink. Multiple cooking methods, all give a different lovely result. The leaf clearly has a lot to give. This is now my permanent green tea.
FAQ
How do I place an order?
Browse our spices, select the quantity, and click “Add to cart.” Once ready, click the cart icon and follow the checkout steps.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, and major international credit cards.
Can I ship internationally?
Yes! We ship worldwide. International shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on destination.
How long will delivery take?
Domestic orders (Sri Lanka) arrive in 3–7 business days. International orders take 7–21 business days, depending on destination and customs.
Do you offer tracking?
Yes. Once your order ships, you’ll receive a tracking number via email.
What is your return policy?
We accept returns within 30 days of delivery for unopened, unused products. Contact us at support@ceylonspicegarden.com to initiate a return.
Are your spices organic and fresh?
Absolutely! All our spices are sourced directly from Sri Lankan farms, carefully processed, and packed to preserve maximum freshness.
How do I contact customer support?
You can reach us via email at support@ceylonspicegarden.com or call +940770261046 (Mon–Fri, 9 am–5 pm GMT+5:30).
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