It is scrumptious and packs a hydrating, antioxidant punch—based on nutritionists
(Picture: 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 soar in and check it so that you don’t should. This time, whereas scrolling, I finished mid-swipe after seeing folks dunking handfuls of tea baggage into half-gallons of milk. The funky-looking concoction everybody’s obsessive about? Chilly-Brew Tea Lattes.
In contrast to 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 trouble. Prep solely takes just a few seconds, and the fridge handles the remainder.
Most TikTok meals tendencies make me skeptical, however this one felt totally different. I already love iced tea lattes, reminiscent of matcha, so this hack caught my consideration. Nonetheless, I had questions, as a result of as an outside fanatic, I puzzled if this might work as a straightforward method to gas up earlier than heading open air. I interviewed just a few specialists to seek out out.
For Hikes and Tenting, Select Teas That Sharpen Focus and Scale back Irritation
“If you wish to do this tea pattern earlier than a hike or tenting journey, take into account what you’re on the lookout for in your cup,” says Rhyan Geiger, a registered dietitian based mostly in Phoenix, Arizona.
Planning to deal with rocky or uneven trails? Geiger recommends brews wealthy in L-theanine, reminiscent of inexperienced and yellow tea (a barely fermented tea), which can sharpen focus and enhance alertness throughout difficult hikes.
However Claire Rifkin, a registered dietitian based mostly in New York Metropolis, factors out that caffeine acts as a diuretic and might make you have to pee extra, which isn’t precisely excellent while you’re out in the course of nature.
For caffeine-free choices that also provide assist 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 additionally beat back fatigue—one other sensible profit while you’re on an extended trek.
Get the Most Out of This Chilly Brew Tea Pattern, Based on Nutritionists
“One method to make this pattern extra nutritious is by focusing in your milk selection,” says Geiger. For anybody seeking to enhance 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. Based on Geiger, the pure sugars in dairy, almond, oat, or soy milk may give 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 along with your chilly brew. A banana or in a single day oats work effectively. Paired with the protein and fats from the milk, you’ll create a extra balanced supply of power, she explains.
Make a Chilly-Brew Tea Latte

Servings: 8 ounces
Prep Time: 5 minutes (plus 8 hours chilling)
Whole Length: 8 hours 5 minutes
Elements
- 3 tea baggage of your selection
- 8 ounces milk (dairy or plant-based)
- Non-obligatory: 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 least 8 hours or in a single day.
- Take away tea baggage earlier than consuming.
The Verdict: Low Elevate, Excessive Reward
I lately 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 this chilly brew tea hack.
Happily, a neighborhood market close by had all of the fundamentals: soy milk, tea, and honey. At residence, I often have these staples readily 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 evening earlier than the hike, I prepped each teas. The subsequent day, they had been chilled and prepared. I’m a two-beverage particular person within the mornings and often attain for an iced matcha and a smoothie, so bringing each teas alongside matches 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. They’d a delicate taste; the hibiscus provided gentle floral and honeyed notes, whereas the Earl Gray introduced out earthy and heat spice flavors. Making an attempt one thing totally different from my standard iced matcha or decaf latte turned out to be a scrumptious shift from my typical routine.
I’ve just a few distant journeys developing this fall, and I’ll undoubtedly deliver this chilly brew tea hack with me. It’s a easy, satisfying method to take pleasure in an iced latte with no need a café close by, and it delivers just a few nourishing perks alongside the way in which.
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