Instant Pot Iced Tea | Easiest Ever Iced Tea

Once you make Instant Pot Iced Tea, you'll never make it the old-fashioned way again! This recipe is a super easy, hands-off method that makes the smoothest but strong iced tea you've ever had!

Instant Pot Iced Tea

I know, you're wondering what's wrong with your standard way of making tea on the stove top, or perhaps even your beautiful sun tea method of making tea.

I used to make tea in those ways as well. However, i didn't get to make tea as often as I'd like to have because they did require me to pay attention to what I was doing and remember to bring in the tea from outside and what not.

But mainly I prefer the Instant Pot method for the taste of the tea. It makes my tea taste both stronger and yet more mellow at the same time.

More and more, this is how I make my Iced Tea.

I'll be honest, when the first person posted about the tea I rolled my eyes, teenage girl style. I was like, really you people.

How hard is it to make tea on the stove? The answer is...harder than in the IP and not as good, not as strong, and actually not as economical. I reuse my bags at least twice. 

When I first posted about this on the IP forum it started a great discussion on whether or not the tea would be bitter, should we add baking soda to keep it from being bitter, etc.

It got me thinking about why I think it is the tea is strong but not as bitter as stovetop tea.

WHY/HOW I THINK INSTANT POT ICED TEA WORKS:

So for all of you who wondered about QPR (Quick Pressure Release) and NR (Natural Release), and wondered if the Tea would be bitter if boiled...

• Under pressure, water doesn't boil at 212F. What pressure does is it raises the boiling point of liquids. So things heat up, but don't boil.
• That's why the food in a pressure cooker tastes different than if it had been boiled on the stovetop or slow cooker.
• Once the pressure is released with QR, the water does come to a vigorous boil. As the pressure goes down, the liquid returns to its original boiling point, which for water would be 212F.
• This is why we don't QR most meats. People sometimes say it's to let the meat rest but it's actually to keep the meat from being boiled.
• This is why when you QR, you have to be really careful as you open it, because as the pressure releases, the liquid inside starts to boil vigorously.
• But if you let it NPR, it is less likely to boil. So your tea is being steeped in high degree water--but not being boiled. I realized this last night as I was falling asleep. #iamanerd
• So don't QPR. And your tea is being well-steeped, not boiled.

How To Make Instant Pot Iced Tea

• Pour everything into your Instant Pot and cook on High Pressure for 4 minutes, and allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes.
• Allow it to cool slightly and then serve over ice.

Tips and Tricks for Making Instant Pot Iced Tea

• I usually use the teabags twice. For the second batch, I add 1-2 fresh teabags to the old ones and make another batch of tea.
• My typical brew is 2 bags of decaf tea + 2 bags Chai flavored tea bags. This gives the tea a light chai flavor which is great over ice.
• Make sure to you let it NPR, that way the tea will be steeped in hot water and not boiled. This is what gives it the strong, yet smooth, flavor.
• You can also add a little condensed milk to make an excellent Thai Iced tea if you'd like.

Have Any Other Recipes for Drinks in the Instant Pot?

This iced tea isn't the only drink you can make in your Instant Pot. If you're looking for other Instant Pot drink recipes, you might like:

• This Agua de Jamaica recipe (Hibiscus Tea), which is a lovely, refreshing tea that's perfect for summer!
• This Horchata recipe, which is every bit as good as the original, but faster and with less sugar!
• If you want to make hot drinks, try my Instant Pot Masala Chai recipe!

So the next time you go to make tea on the stove top, get out your tea maker or make sun tea, bust out your Instant Pot instead and make this delicious Instant Pot Iced Tea! Don't forget to leave a comment letting me know how you liked it!

Originally Published June 22, 2017

Don't forget to check out my other Best-selling Instant Pot Cookbooks!

Indian Instant Pot, Keto Instant Pot, Instant Pot Fast and Easy, Healthy Instant Pot & Vegetarian Instant Pot.