If you're trying to cut down on soft drinks due to the sugar or the artificial sweeteners, the hardest part isn't the decision, it's finding healthy alternatives to soft drinks that satisfy in the same way. Something cold, flavourful, and refreshing enough that you don't feel like you're missing out.
Cold brew tea is the best answer we've found. It's naturally sweet, completely sugar-free, endlessly varied, plus it takes about two minutes to prepare. Here are our top picks from the cold brew collection, each one a proper replacement for a different soft drink occasion.
For the full cold brew method, see our complete cold brew guide.
1. Strawberry Lemonade Tea - Instead Of Squash Or Lemonade
Fruit tea | Caffeine-free
Strawberry Lemonade tea cold brewed in lemonade (or just water if you want zero sugar) is bright, naturally sweet, & bursting with juicy strawberry & zingy lemon flavour.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml lemonade or water, pop in the fridge for 4–8 hours or overnight. Pour over ice with a lemon slice.
Best for: The everyday squash or lemonade drinker.
2. MojiTEA - Instead Of Fizzy Drinks Or Mixers
Green tea blend | Contains caffeine
Mojito Tea cold brewed in sparkling water is the closest thing to a satisfying fizzy drink alternative we make. Zesty lime, fresh mint, and green tea - cold brewed in sparkling water and poured over ice. Refreshing in that bright, zingy way that makes you reach for a cold drink in the first place, without a gram of added sugar.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml sparkling water, fridge for 4–6 hours. Pour over ice with fresh lime and mint.
Best for: The fizzy drink habit | Afternoons, barbecues, anywhere you'd normally reach for something sparkling.
3. Peach Soda Tea - Instead Of Sugar-filled Iced Tea
Fruit tea | Caffeine-free
Peach Soda Tea is naturally peachy, refreshing, & clean-tasting. If you're trying to make plain water more interesting without adding anything to it, this is the answer. Cold brewed in water, it's subtly sweet & refreshing without any sugar.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml cold water, fridge for 4–8 hours or overnight. Pour over ice.
Best for: The flavoured water drinker | All-day hydration | Completely caffeine-free.
4. Chocolate Digestives Tea - Instead Of Milky Drinks Or Hot Chocolate
Black tea blend | Contains caffeine
Cold brewed overnight in oat milk, Chocolate Digestives Tea produces a rich, biscuity, chocolatey iced drink with no added sugar & nothing artificial. If your soft drink habit leans towards creamy, sweet drinks then this is the cold swap worth trying.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml oat milk, fridge for 3-6 hours. Pour over ice.
Best for: The hot chocolate or milky drink lover.
5. Lemon Sherbet Tea - Instead Of Diet Fizzy Drinks
Fruit tea | Caffeine-free
The draw of diet fizzy drinks is usually the fizz & citrus sharpness & Lemon Sherbet Tea cold brewed in sparkling water delivers both without artificial sweeteners. Clean, zesty, & really refreshing.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml sparkling water, fridge for 4–8 hours. Pour over ice with a slice of fresh lemon.
Best for: The diet fizzy drink drinker | Clean citrus refreshment | Completely caffeine-free.
6. Blackberries & Cream Oolong Tea - Instead Of Sugary Fruit Drinks
Oolong tea | Contains caffeine
Blackberries & Cream cold brewed in lemonade is smooth, sweet, and full of juicy blackberry flavour with a lovely creamy oolong finish. It tastes like a proper fruity soft drink but without any added sugar - a satisfying swap if you or someone in your household gravitates towards sweet, fruity cold drinks.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml lemonade, fridge for 4–8 hours. Pour over ice.
Best for: Anyone who loves a sweet, fruity cold drink | A gentler caffeine lift than coffee.
7. Cherry Cola Bottles Tea - Instead Of Cola Or Fizzy Drinks
Fruit tea | Caffeine-free
Cherry Cola Bottles Tea cold brewed in sparkling water or lemonade is the closest thing to a homemade cherryade you' can make. Fruity, slightly tart, & satisfying, this is the blend that converts cola drinkers to tea.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml lemonade or sparkling water, fridge for 4–8 hours. Pour over ice with fresh cherries.
Best for: The cola or fizzy drink drinker | Completely caffeine-free.
8. Sticky Chai - Instead Of Iced Coffee Or Iced Lattes
Spiced black tea blend | Contains caffeine
If you're trying to cut down on iced coffees but still want something cold, caffeinated, & satisfying, Sticky Chai cold brewed in oat milk or coconut milk is the answer. Warm spices, creamy milk, served over ice, it delivers the same ritual satisfaction as an iced latte but with considerably less caffeine and no coffee jitters.
How to cold brew it: 5–6 heaped teaspoons in 750ml oat milk or coconut milk, fridge for 4–6 hours. Pour over ice with a pinch of cinnamon if you have some.
Best for: The iced coffee drinker | Mid-morning or afternoon.
Why Cold Brew Tea Works As A Soft Drink Alternative
The reason most healthy alternatives to soft drinks fail is that they don't actually taste good enough. Cold brew tea from good loose leaf blends tastes brilliant, it’s naturally sweet without added sugar, complex and interesting, & satisfying in a way that makes you not miss the original.
A full Cold Brew Tea Bottle keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, which means batch brewing one bottle at the start of the week gives you a ready-made alternative for days.
