3 Organic Loose Leaf Teas That Taste Great Hot Or Iced
A steeping guide, taste-profile breakdown, and a look at why organic loose leaf tea deserves a spot in your cup this season.
Summer heat doesn't mean you have to give up your tea habit — it just means it's time to find loose leaf teas versatile enough to serve piping hot in December and ice-cold in July. Below are three organic loose leaf teas from Sullivan Street Tea & Spice Company, a family-owned tea shop that has been sourcing high-quality, organic, and fair trade teas for over 20 years. Each of these teas was chosen specifically because it holds its flavor beautifully whether you're sipping it from a warm mug or pouring it over ice.
We'll walk through the exact steeping specs — amount, water temperature, and time — for each tea, describe what you can expect in the cup, and explain why choosing organic loose leaf tea over conventional tea bags is worth the switch.
Why Organic Loose Leaf Tea Matters
Tea leaves are famously "thirsty" for whatever is in the soil and air around them — camellia sinensis (the tea plant) is not typically washed or peeled before processing, so anything sprayed on the leaves during growth can end up directly in your cup. That's one of the biggest reasons tea drinkers increasingly look for the USDA Organic label.
```🌱 Organic Tea
- Grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers
- Certified by third-party organic standards, which also regulate soil health and biodiversity
- Often produced using traditional, small-batch methods that preserve leaf integrity
- Frequently sourced through direct relationships with growers, supporting fair prices and sustainable farming
🏭 Conventional Tea
- May be treated with synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers during cultivation
- Often mass-produced and blended from multiple large estates with less traceability
- Frequently sold as broken leaf or "dust" in bags, which can mean a less nuanced flavor
- Less regulatory oversight on residue limits in some producing regions
Beyond what's not in organic tea, there's also what tends to come with it: whole, unbroken loose leaves. Loose leaf tea generally retains more of the plant's natural essential oils and antioxidants than the fannings and dust used in most conventional tea bags, which translates to a fuller aroma, smoother mouthfeel, and more complex flavor in the cup. Organic farming practices also tend to support healthier soil and local ecosystems, which many tea drinkers see as a meaningful reason to choose organic beyond taste alone.
All three teas featured in this guide are certified organic, sourced through Sullivan Street's long-standing relationships with growers around the world.
```1. Sunrise Ceylon Black Tea 🌄
Sunrise Ceylon Black Tea is a beautiful long-leaf, organic and fair trade Orange Pekoe grown in the Dimbula region of Sri Lanka. It's the kind of black tea that works for people who love a classic cup but don't want something that overpowers the palate.
How to Steep It
| Amount | 1 generous teaspoon per 8 oz. cup |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 212°F (100°C) — full boil |
| Steep Time | 3 minutes |
"I love to drink the Sunrise Ceylon tea iced during the warmer months. It is such an easy drink to brew a pitcher of." — Cadence V., verified customerShop Sunrise Ceylon Black Tea → ```
2. Strawberry Fields Green Tea 🍓
Strawberry Fields Green Tea is one of Sullivan Street's most-loved blends, and it's easy to see why. It combines organic Chinese green tea with organic apple, organic strawberries, and natural flavor for a fruit-forward cup that still tastes like real tea rather than candy.
Ingredients: organic Chinese green tea, organic apple, organic strawberries, natural flavor.
How to Steep It
| Amount | 1 generous teaspoon per 8 oz. cup |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 170°F (77°C) — just below a simmer, not boiling |
| Steep Time | 2 minutes |
💡 Tip: Green tea scorches easily. If you don't have a variable-temperature kettle, bring water to a boil and let it rest for 60–90 seconds before pouring over the leaves.
"This is my new default green tea, tastes delicious with or without sweetener. And the smell 😍" — Travis M., verified customerShop Strawberry Fields Green Tea → ```
3. Peach Rooibos Herbal Tea 🍑
Peach Rooibos Herbal Tea blends top-quality organic South African "Red Bush" rooibos with pieces of organic dried apricots and natural peach extract. It's naturally caffeine-free and antioxidant-rich, making it a great choice any time of day — including right before bed.
Ingredients: organic rooibos, organic dried apricots, and natural peach flavor.
How to Steep It
| Amount | 1 generous teaspoon per 8 oz. cup |
|---|---|
| Water Temperature | 212°F (100°C) — full boil |
| Steep Time | 5 minutes |
💡 Tip: Because rooibos is caffeine-free and naturally low in tannins, it's very forgiving — steeping a minute or two longer than instructed won't turn it bitter the way an over-steeped black or green tea would.
"Loved it." — George T., verified customerShop Peach Rooibos Herbal Tea → ```
Quick Steeping Cheat Sheet
Here's a side-by-side look at all three organic loose leaf teas so you can steep with confidence.
| Tea | Type | Amount | Temperature | Time | Taste Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Ceylon | Black | 1 tsp / 8 oz. | 212°F | 3 min | Bright, brisk, good body, not too strong |
| Strawberry Fields | Green | 1 tsp / 8 oz. | 170°F | 2 min | Lush strawberry, sweet-astringent finish |
| Peach Rooibos | Herbal (caffeine-free) | 1 tsp / 8 oz. | 212°F | 5 min | Sweet, tart, honeyed and fruity |
Tips for Brewing Any Tea Iced
- Brew it stronger. Use the same steep time but roughly 1.5–2x the leaf, since the ice will dilute the tea as it melts.
- Pour hot tea over ice immediately after steeping to cool it quickly and lock in flavor and aroma, rather than letting it cool at room temperature first.
- Strain thoroughly so the loose leaves don't continue steeping (and turning bitter) once refrigerated.
- Skip the sugar with fruit-forward blends like Strawberry Fields or Peach Rooibos — their natural sweetness often means you don't need to add any.
- Refrigerate rather than sun-brew if you're concerned about food safety, especially in warm weather.
For a full walkthrough, see Sullivan Street's guide: The Front Porch Guide to Iced Tea Brewing.
Ready to Stock Your Tea Shelf?
All three teas are organic, sourced through direct grower relationships, and available as a loose tea in packaged amounts beginning at 2 ounces.
Sunrise Ceylon Strawberry Fields Peach Rooibos
