How many tea bags for a gallon of tea? The general rule of thumb is one tea bag per cup. Is that the golden rule? Of course, the answer is no. Actually, the type of tea you use and how you brew your tea makes a difference.
Before exploring how many tea bags for a gallon of tea, first you need know how many cups make a gallon. A gallon means 16 cups, which is also equal to 128 ounce. Generally, a teabag contains 2 to 3 grams of tea. It takes approximately 28 grams
of tea to make a gallon, so you would need 9-14 standard teabags for a gallon of tea, depending on how strong you like it. But as stated above, the tea types and brewing methods may effect how many teabags you use. (Learn the major types of tea) Let dig in.
How many tea bags to make a gallon with different brewing methods
Hot brewing: Generally, one teabag per cup is rule. To make a gallon, you can use 9 to 16 teabags, depending on your preference. And there is always a misconception that the more teabags you use the bitter the tea is. Using more teabags does not make tea bitter. Steeping teabags in too long or using water that is too hot makes the tea bitter. It is suggested to steep teabags for 2 minutes in 160-180°F. Also, if you use loose leaf tea, it is suggested to use a teapot with filter. Ecooe offers many kinds of glass teapot with filter built-in.
Learn more: What happens when steeping teabags in too long?
Cold brewing: Tea can be brewed in cold water. Cold brewed tea taste smooth and sweet. To make cold brewed tea, you need approximately one teabag for 16 oz of tea. To make 44 oz of tea in water pitcher, you need 3 tea bags. To make a gallon, you need 8 teabags. If you like strong tea, you can add 1 or 2 more teabags in. When making, place the pitcher in refrigerator overnight or for at least 6 hours. (Learn: How to make cold brew tea?)
Sweet tea: It is not summer until you have sweet tea in the fridge. When making one gallon sweet tea, you can add 6 to 8 single cup size teabags or 2 to 3 family size teabags. Stir in 1 to 2 cups sugar to your taste. You can learn more on how to make a gallon of sweet tea.
Sun tea: To make sun tea, you also need one teabag for 16 oz of tea. When making one gallon tea, you can add 8 to 10 teabags. Place the teabags in a covered container and add teabags and water. Set the container in direct sunlight for 1 to 2 hours.
Actually, how many teabags to make a gallon of tea depends on how strong the tea you like. The above answer is a general rule. You can try many times to find the best flavor.
Related: How many times can you use loose leaf tea?
When is the best time to drink green tea for weight loss?
Is it true that tea has more caffeine than coffee?
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Home » How Many Tea Bags for a Gallon of Tea?
May 24, 2022
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Welcome to your ultimate guide to making a large batch of tea! Whether you are brewing tea for a crowd or just for yourself, knowing how many tea bags for a gallon of tea is essential! Here we will break it down so you can make the perfect cup of tea every time!
Tea is a sure crowd-pleaser. It can be made with black tea, green tea, oolong, or herbal tea, just to name a few. Tea is the perfect make-ahead drink and can be served hot or over ice. Some love it just as it is, while others prefer a bit of sugar or milk. Iced tea is the quintessential summer drink, and it looks beautiful on its own or with garnishes such as mint, lemon, or rosemary. I have previously shared my popular recipes for raspberry iced tea and blueberry iced tea. Both winners for large crowds! The big question is, how many tea bags to use for making such a large quantity of tea?
Contents
- 1 How Many Tea Bags for a Gallon of Tea
- 2 How Many Tea Bags for a Gallon of Iced Tea
- 3 How Many Tea Bags for a Gallon of Sun Tea
- 4 How Many Family Size Tea Bags for a Gallon of Tea?
- 5 How Much Tea for a Gallon of Herbal Tea
- 6 How to Brew a Gallon of Iced Tea
- 7 How to Cold Brew a Gallon of Iced Tea
- 8 Recipe Tips
- 9 Measurement Glossary
- 10 More Recipes You Will Love!
- 11 How to Make a Gallon of Tea
- 11.1 Ingredients
- 11.2 Instructions
- 11.2.1 How to Brew a Gallon of Tea
- 11.2.2 How to Cold Brew a Gallon of Tea
- 11.3 Notes
- 11.3.0.0.1 Nutrition Information
In general, 1 tea bag per 8 ounces of water is the rule. I apply this when making large quantities as well. Most tea bags contain a little less than 1 teaspoon but more than 3/4 teaspoon of tea. Keep this in mind if you are using family-size tea bags as you won’t need as many tea bags when using those. So, how many tea bags for a gallon of tea? Use 16 regular-sized tea bags or 4 family-sized tea bags per 1 gallon of water.
Of course, you can use more or less depending upon how you like your tea to taste!
How Many Tea Bags for a Gallon of Iced Tea
For iced tea, the trick is to brew tea strong enough so it won’t water down when poured over ice. I’ve found that for black tea 16 tea bags are the perfect ratio. Be sure to allow the tea time to cool before serving over ice.
How Many Tea Bags for a Gallon of Sun Tea
The same amount of tea bags used for traditional tea making can be applied to sun tea as well. See here for more tips and cautions on making sun tea!
How Many Family Size Tea Bags for a Gallon of Tea?
Family-sized tea bags are larger bags that contain more tea leaves than regular size tea bags. In general, one family-sized tea bag makes 1 quart of tea. Use 4 family-size tea bags for 1 gallon of tea.
How Much Tea for a Gallon of Herbal Tea
The same rules apply for herbal tea although you can generally steep herbal tea longer in hot water and it is often recommended. You can also cold brew herbal tea with beautiful results. Check out my tips for iced chamomile tea and iced roselle tea! Use 10-16 tea bags per 1 gallon of water to make herbal tea. To make a gallon of herbal tea using loose tea, use 1/3-1/2 cup of tea for 1 gallon of water.
How to Brew a Gallon of Iced Tea
- Add 1 gallon (16 cups) of water to a large pot.
- If you are making sweet tea, now is a good time to add your sugar.
- Bring water to a boil.
- Turn off the heat and add in tea bags. Be sure to fully submerge the tea bags in the water. (If your tea bags have paper tags on the end of the strings either remove the paper or hang them over the edge of the pot carefully to avoid any flame.)
- Steep covered for 5 full minutes.
- Remove tea bags and allow the tea to cool down.
- Transfer and store in the refrigerator until serving.
How to Cold Brew a Gallon of Iced Tea
- Add tea bags to one gallon of water. (Or divide between 4, 1-quart containers)
- Secure lid and refrigerate for 4-12 hours.
- Remove tea bags. Your tea is ready to serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Recipe Tips
- Lipton Tea is a favorite for iced tea! It is smooth, bright, and full of flavor.
- Do not be tempted to over steep tea. For true teas such as black and oolong only steep for 5 minutes in hot water. For green tea 3 minutes in hot water should be perfect. Herbal teas may steep up to 10 minutes.
- To make stronger tea, simply add more tea and avoid over steeping.
- Allow the tea to fully cool before serving over ice.
- Experiment with times between 4-12 hours for your favorite cold brew tea!
- Use fresh herbs such as rosemary, mint, or lavender to garnish and add subtle flavor.
- Add more flavor and bright color with slices of lemon or lime.
Measurement Glossary
- 16 Cups = 1 Gallon
- 4 Quarts = 1 Gallon
- 8 Pints = 1 Gallon
More Recipes You Will Love!
- Iced London Fog
- Peach Iced Tea
- Blackberry Iced Tea
- How to Cold Brew Tea
I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment below and let’s connect! If you try this recipe, please come back and leave a review!
Ingredients
- 10-16 Tea Bags
- 1 Gallon Water
- Lemon Slices (optional)
- Mint Slices (optional)
Instructions
How to Brew a Gallon of Tea
- Add 1 gallon (16 cups) of water to a large pot.
- If you are making sweet tea, now is a good time to add your sugar.
- Bring water to a boil.
- Turn off the heat and add in tea bags. Be sure to fully submerge the tea bags in the water. (If your tea bags have paper tags on the end of the strings either remove the paper or hang them over the edge of the pot carefully to avoid any flame.)
- Steep covered for 5 full minutes.
- Remove tea bags and allow the tea to cool down.
- Transfer and store in the refrigerator until serving.
How to Cold Brew a Gallon of Tea
- Add tea bags to one gallon of water. (Or divide between 4, 1-quart containers)
- Secure lid and refrigerate for 4-12 hours.
- Remove tea bags. Your tea is ready to serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Yield 15 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 1Total Fat
0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 10mgCarbohydrates 0gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 0g
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition is calculated by Nutronionix