Bold, rich and refreshing, rooibos iced tea is the perfect caffeine-free drink to cool you down and hydrate you. Learn how to make rooibos iced tea using loose leaf tea in this easy recipe tutorial, along with my tried and tested rooibos tea blends to start with.

Close-up of refreshing rooibos iced tea with ice cubes made from loose leaf rooibos tea.

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Rooibos (ROY-boss) tea (AKA red bush tea) is native to South Africa. Naturally caffeine-free, it's a hearty tea in the world of herbal teas. If you're missing the intensity of black tea, but can't have caffeine, try rooibos!

Honeybush tea or green rooibos are sometimes blended with red bush tea.

We have tried many loose leaf rooibos teas and we definitely have favorites!

Peach Apricot Honeybush Tea from Fusion Teas
Organic Passion Fruit Rooibos from The Path of Tea (pictured)
Organic Rootbeer Rooibos from Positively Tea
The Path of Tea used to carry a Butterscotch Rooibos which was our #1 favorite, but sadly it's not available anymore. If you find a butterscotch or caramel rooibos, definitely try it! Those flavors go well together.

This method of making iced rooibos tea can be used with any loose leaf rooibos that you have. I'm using passionfruit rooibos for the photos, but I use this same method for all loose leaf rooibos tea I make.

🔪 Instructions

Here's how to make rooibos iced tea step-by-step!

Mason jar and stainless steel tea infuser basket used to make rooibos iced tea with loose leaf tea.

Step 1: You'll need a quart-size mason jar and a deep tea strainer, so the tea leaves can steep in the hot water. You'll also need boiling water. I use an electric kettle, which you can see in the background here.

Adding loose leaf rooibos tea to a stainless steel tea infuser basket for brewing rooibos iced tea.

Step 2: Put the large strainer inside the mason jar (or tea pot). Add 1 ½ tablespoons of tea to the strainer. (You could also put the tea straight in the jar, but then you'll have to strain it later.)

Pouring boiling water over loose leaf rooibos tea in a mason jar to brew homemade iced tea.

Step 3: Pour 2 cups of boiling water into the jar, filling halfway. Let steep for 5-10 minutes.

Freshly brewed loose leaf rooibos tea steeping in a mason jar before chilling for iced tea.

Step 4: Remove strainer and discard tea leaves. (If you want to add sugar, stir it in now.) Then, fill the jar with cool filtered water.

Pouring homemade rooibos iced tea made with loose leaf tea into a glass filled with ice cubes.

Two glasses of rooibos iced tea made with loose leaf tea served over ice on a woven serving tray.

Nifty things I use to make tea

Electric kettle with multiple temperature buttons
Mason jar lids with pour spout. I have them in black and pastel colors.
Long tea spoons
Stainless steel tea steeper and strainer - for mugs
Extra tall stainless steel tea strainer - for mason jars

🥡 Make ahead and storage tips

Store prepared rooibos tea in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

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📖 Recipe