You’ll love this smooth Instant Pot Iced Tea for a quick and healthy refreshing drink. You can also make tea concentrate to get that same great flavor while saving space in your fridge.
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If you haven’t tried iced tea made in an Instant Pot, you’re in for an amazing treat. Yes, an Instant Pot. The same thing you used last night to make rice or beef stew.
It’s so smooth, rich, and strong while still being mellow. Your tastebuds are about to be rocked in the best possible way.
If you are new to owning an Instant Pot, check out these Easy Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners. Not only will you get more inspiration for other delicious recipes, but I have a handy guide for getting started with your Instant Pot as well as a glossary of common Instant Pot terms.
How Many Small Tea Bags Are In a Family-Sized Tea Bag?
Each individual tea bag makes 1 cup (8 oz) of tea. A family-sized tea bag is equivalent to four tea bags and will make 1 quart (4 cups or 32 oz) of tea. I used two family-sized tea bags for this recipe and 8 cups of water.
How to Make Tea Concentrate
Making iced tea concentrate is a great way to save space in your fridge. To create a tea concentrate, reduce the water in this recipe to only 4 cups, but use the same number of teabags.
When you’re ready to enjoy your iced tea, fill your glass 50-60% full of the tea concentrate, and add water or ice to top off the glass.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- If you’re using individual tea bags, you’d use 7-8 depending on how strong you like your tea.
- The baking soda is optional but a favorite trick for creating a smooth and mellow drink with a very deep tea flavor.
- Reader feedback has consistently shown that Red Rose tea bags have a greater chance of bursting in the Instant Pot.
- Consider getting color-coded sealing rings for your pressure cooker to keep the odors of last night’s Instant Pot French Onion Soup from flavoring your iced tea.
- No pressure cooker? Check out my post on Healthy Sweet Tea for both stovetop and sun tea instructions.
WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS
One serving has 0 WW Freestyle SmartPoints with no added sweeteners.
Easy Instant Pot Iced Tea and Tea Concentrate
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 2 family-sized tea bags {or 7 individual tea bags}
- 1/8 tsp baking soda {optional – see notes below}
- sweetener of choice {optional}
Instructions
- Add 8 cups of water to the insert of the Instant Pot.8 cups water
- Drop in the tea bags with any tags removed. If you'd like to add any non-liquid sweetener, add it now.2 family-sized tea bags
- Lock the lid into place, flip the steam release handle to "sealing". Press manual>high pressure>and use the up/down buttons to set the time to 4 minutes.
- After it has finished processing, allow it to sit with the lid on for 10 minutes and then do a manual release with the nozzle set to venting.
- Stir in baking soda (optional. See notes).1/8 tsp baking soda
- Store in the fridge in a pitcher and enjoy within one week.
How to Make Tea Concentrate
- Reduce the water in this recipe to only 4 cups, but use the same number of tea bags.
- When you're ready to enjoy your iced tea, fill your glass 50-60% full and add water or ice to top off the glass.
Notes
- The baking soda is optional but a favorite trick for creating a smooth and mellow drink with a very deep tea flavor.
- If you’re using individual tea bags, you’d use 7-8 depending on how strong you like your tea.
- If you’d like to double the recipe, the cooking time remains the same.
Hiya and thank you in advance! I have a loose tea which requires 5 min of boil and 15 simmer on a stove.. If I set the manual to 5 and leave pressure for 15 before release do you think it week be about the same?
I think it would be ok, but the 4 minutes in a pressure canner is actually “more” than a 5-minute boil. It heats while the Instant Pot is coming to pressure and then continues to cook after as it is depressurizing.
This is actually my first time making… I accidentally put the baking soda in first, oops! Have you made this mistake? If so, will it be fine?
I haven’t done it so I’m not sure what will happen. Baking soda will foam when heated but the amount is so small I can’t imagine it messing with the cooking process too much. Please follow up and let me know!
Fantastic recipe!! I’m going to try using the baking soda and I see that you have an iced coffee recipe as well. Can’t wait to try that as well.
My iced drinks definitely outweigh my hot drinks. 🙂
So glad you enjoyed it!
Question for you the all-knowing guru of all… if you are making tea with sparkling water do you still add the baking soda? I cannot wait to try this. I have peach flavored sparkling water that is just waiting to be experimented with. If I don’t drink it first. Sounds like my instant pot is going to start getting a major work out!
I always add the baking soda to my iced tea, but that is personal preference!
Peach sparkling water sounds delightful!
My tea bags opened up in the instant pot, probably from the pressure. Anyone else experience this?
I’ve experienced a few “duds” in normal tea making circumstances. But so far none have busted in the IP.
Were your tea bags traditional or those silky fancy tea bags?
The tea looks great but I’m mostly struggling to get past the perfection that are your ice cubes. 🙂
Giiiiiirl, they’re FAKE. FAKE, FAKE, FAKE. 🙂 You can buy anything on Amazon these days.
Spending 30 minutes photographing real ice is a total cluster.
🙂 🙂
What is the different between quick and natural release for this recipe? I thought I read an explanation on this recipe but now I’m making it and don’t see it. I think I imagined it…?! Thanks!
The quick-release raises the temp of the water rapidly which could lead to it becoming bitter. I allow for the natural release for 15 minutes because I think it is a better taste.