🍊 Sally's Kitchen
Summer Solstice Tea (Cinnamon Orange Sweet Tea)
This cold steeped cinnamon orange sweet tea recipe isn't the watered-down stuff from the backyard cooler — Cinnamon Orange Grove steeps overnight, then gets cut with sweet tea for something with actual depth.
Why This Cold Steeped Cinnamon Orange Sweet Tea Works
- No stovetop, no boiling water — just a pitcher in the fridge overnight while you do literally anything else.
- Cutting the steeped tea with sweet tea instead of drinking it straight means you get the cinnamon-orange flavor without it turning into syrup.
- Works with whatever tea you've got — Cinnamon Orange Grove is the lead, but two other teas sub in cleanly.
The Java Momma Twist: Cinnamon Orange Grove is a caffeine-free rooibos blend that's already built to be steeped long and slow — the brew note on the bag literally says "let it linger." That makes it the right tea for an overnight cold steep, where most caffeinated teas would turn bitter and tannic over 6-9 hours. Cutting the finished steep with plain sweet tea, half and half, is the move that keeps the cinnamon and orange from becoming the only thing you taste.
The Tea That Makes This Work
Cinnamon Orange Grove is a naturally sweet, caffeine-free rooibos blend with bright orange peel, bold cinnamon, and a mix of cozy botanicals — chicory root, honeybush, lemongrass, rosehips, chamomile, and ginger root. It's built for a long, slow steep, which is exactly what this recipe asks of it. You could use another caffeine-free blend — but this is the one the recipe was built around.
Shop Cinnamon Orange Grove →One packet makes three 10-gram batches, so a single bag gets you through this recipe more than once.
What You'll Need
For the Cinnamon Orange Tea Base:
- 1 packet Cinnamon Orange Grove (10g per 2 cups water — use the full packet for this recipe)
- 6 cups cold water
To Build the Pitcher:
- 6 cups sweet tea (store-bought, or homemade — see Swaps)
- Orange and lemon slices, plus more for garnish (optional)
- A few sprigs of mint, plus more for garnish (optional)
- Crushed ice, for serving
How To Make It
- Steep the tea base. Combine the Cinnamon Orange Grove with 6 cups of cold water in a large pitcher. Cover and steep in the fridge for 6-9 hours, or overnight.
- Strain and combine. Strain out the tea, then combine the steeped tea with an equal amount of sweet tea. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
- Add the citrus and mint. If desired, add slices of lemon and orange and a few sprigs of mint directly to the pitcher.
- Serve. Pour over crushed ice in a tall glass and garnish with extra orange slices and a sprig of mint.
Swaps & Permission Slips
- Want to skip the store-bought sweet tea? Brew Tiffany's Breakfast strong (1-2 tsp per 8 oz, full 5-minute steep), sweeten it while it's still hot so the sugar actually dissolves, then cool completely. That's your homemade sweet tea half.
- Want caffeine in the mix? Swap Masala Chai in for the cold steep instead of Cinnamon Orange Grove — same method, spicier result.
- Want something closer to a creamy black tea? Iced Dreams Cold Brew Tea Pods are built for exactly this kind of overnight steep.
- No fresh mint on hand? Skip it entirely — the citrus carries the drink fine on its own.
- Tea turning a little bitter after a day or two? Pull the orange and lemon slices out after the first 24 hours. The peel is what turns bitter the longer it sits in the pitcher, not the tea itself.
Made this one? Cinnamon Orange Grove is caffeine-free and naturally sweet, so it works any time of day — not just for this pitcher.
More recipes like this one are at The Menu.
However you build your pitcher, this cold steeped cinnamon orange sweet tea recipe is the kind of thing that disappears before dinner's even started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make cinnamon orange sweet tea without caffeine?
Yes — as written, this recipe is caffeine-free on the tea base side, since Cinnamon Orange Grove is a rooibos blend. The only caffeine that sneaks in comes from whatever sweet tea you cut it with, so use a decaf or herbal sweet tea if you want the whole pitcher caffeine-free.
How long does this keep in the fridge?
About 4-5 days at full quality, though it's best within the first couple of days while the citrus is still fresh. Pull the orange and lemon slices out after 24 hours to keep the flavor clean rather than bitter.
Can I use store-bought sweet tea instead of making my own?
Yes — that's the simplest version of this recipe, and it works fine. If you'd rather brew your own, Tiffany's Breakfast steeped strong and sweetened while hot gets you there with a bit more control over how sweet it ends up.
Why does cold brewing make smoother iced tea?
Cold water extracts flavor compounds more slowly and selectively than hot water, which pulls out far less of the tannins responsible for bitterness. It takes longer — 6 to 9 hours instead of a few minutes — but it requires no active effort and produces a noticeably smoother cup.
Can I use a different tea instead of Cinnamon Orange Grove?
Yes — Masala Chai or Iced Dreams Cold Brew Tea Pods both work using the same method and ratio. You'll get a spicier, caffeinated result with Masala Chai, or a smoother black-tea base with Iced Dreams.
Should I remove the orange and lemon slices before storing?
After the first 24 hours, yes. Citrus peel left sitting in a pitcher of tea starts to release bitterness over time, so pulling the slices keeps the flavor from drifting.
