I was thinking of brewing up a batch of hot green tea, cooling it, and storing it in a pitcher to drink. Everything I’ve read says to brew hot green tea by the cup for the most healthful benefits, nothing about keeping iced green tea in the refrigerator. And when I did look up iced green tea, it was usually an article railing against the evils of added sugar, flavoring, color, etc. that you’d find in a bottle in a store. What I suppose I’m asking is, do the beneficial qualities evaporate during storage or are they only prevalent if the tea is freshly made with very hot water?
Since the health ‘benefits’ of green tea are still largely unproven (other than the benefit of avoiding the sugar found in other drinks) I’d say that cold brewing is just as good for you as hot, as long as your water source is uncontaminated and the tea leaves are likewise free of pathogens.
oh. 
well, I’m making it anyway, and Imma gonna add sugar, WTH.
I had iced green tea for lunch today. That said, I had it with a couple slices of pizza, which may have diluted the healthful effects.
I think it’s just as good as hot once sugar is added, especially if brewed hot and then allowed to cool. If you like ginger green tea, I have an easy recipe:
8 cups water
about half a “hand” of fresh ginger, sliced thinly, don’t bother peeling
8 green tea bags
Put it all in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn heat off and brew for 5 minutes.
Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons honey (or all sugar or all honey, whatever floats your boat) to a pitcher
Remove tea bags from pan, but leave ginger, and pour it into the pitcher, stir.
Let cool on the counter for a couple hours, then put in fridge.
Enjoy sweet-ginger-spicy good tea, it gets a little more gingery as it stays in the fridge.
Also delicious (and a bit healthier without the anti-antioxidant) unsweetened, can also halve the water for boiling and add ice or cold water to make 8 cups in the pitcher if you want to drink it right away.
The greatest benefit to green tea is that it’s tasty. All other claims are a bit dubious, in my estimation. This tastiness is at its peak when the tea is cold, lightly sweetened, and perhaps accented with a bit of mint. In short, I’d say you’re doing it about right. (Remember to sweeten it while it’s still hot for best effect.)
Sounds really good, I’ll get some ginger, thank you!