As I have been saying, it is HOT in Vancouver and I want iced tea! NOW! I normally do a slow-steeping method overnight in the fridge and make simple syrup which has to cool off… SCREW THAT!
I did some research and discovered OMG, you can make iced tea in the Instant Pot. In just minutes! I wanted to see if you could also infuse it with lemon and the results were mind-blowing. Seriously, it is getting ridiculous how much I love my pressure cooker.
The Ingredients
You will need 1 cup of sugar (I will only be using 3/4 cup next time, too sweet for me), 8 cups of water, 5 tea bags (I used decaf) and 1 sliced lemon. My sister Jamie tried this with regular tea and it had a ton of tannin so add a pinch of baking soda to help with the sharpness.
Directions
Add everything to the pressure cooker.
Including the slices of lemon!
Secure the lid and put on manual for four minutes, normal pressure. (Midge had her teabags explode so try and put it on low pressure if you can.)
Release pressure and immediately open the lid.
Remove lemon and tea bags.
Strain into a large pitcher and let cool. Then chill. Serve over lots of lemon slices and ice cubes.
This made a little more than what my pitcher holds so next time 7 cups of water, 4 tea bags and 3/4 cup of sugar.
Yummy Results
This is the BEST iced tea I have ever had! Seriously, I am starting to sound like an Instant Pot fanatic but for me, to have decaf iced tea taste this good?! And the lemon flavour was in every sip and so deeply delicious.
It did create a cloudy beverage but who cares? Not me. Reg loved it too and thinks it is the best iced tea I have ever made. Seriously robust flavour, super lemony and contains zero caffeine.
Feel free to try this with green tea too if that is more your summer drinking style. I just can not believe how fast and easy it was to make this.
I will be making this all summer long. DAMN!
And where does one find a small pressure cooker….please …. Then i can share my results! Question: what are your thoughts on other sugars and sugar like sweeteners?
Looks very tasty and eager to try your recipe! Cheers.
You know, I have never seen one second hand and that is saying something! My pressure cooker is only 6 quarts and I got it as a gift from my Auntie Laima via amazon. They’re are usually around $135 which I know is a lot but to be honest, if I only had one special appliance it would be a tough call between that and my ice cream maker.
I am lucky to not have sugar issues (yet, knock on wood) so I use just regular old granulated sugar and only allow myself one class a day and sometimes I dilute it to make it go farther. I would prefer to use real sugar as oppose to substitutes but I bet you could use honey in this. Hey, I might have to try that too!!!
I hope a pressure cooker magically comes your way! You never know…
Oh, my gosh, that looks amazing. Maybe we’ll try it for the sesquicentennial!
That would be perfect timing!!! I still can’t believe how perfectly it turned out. I did read that some people may find it too strong, potentially harsh, so they add a pinch of baking soda but with it being decaf… It was not necessary for me to do.
There is nothing so refreshing on a hot summer’s day as iced tea! I love it with lemon too.
So true!!! And now it is not a pain in the a$$ to make!
Hi Suzie 🙂 One of my dream appliances is a pressure cooker…that’ll come one day! Your tea looks great! I’ve been making iced herbal teas and we mix them up with maple syrup. We especially love the blueberry herbal tea, so lovely!
Oh yes, you could do this with herbal teas and maple syrup or honey… I wish I like herbal teas, my life would be much more interesting. I hope a pressure cooker comes your way soon!
Love your blog Susie and love my Instant Pot. So I made the tea just now and my tea bags exploded in the pot. I used Red Rose tea bags. I also used 12 cups water . Any thoughts? I’m going to strain it thru cheesecloth.
Midge
Oh no Midge!!! I’m so sorry to hear that happened to your tea bags! Was it on high pressure? Maybe next time try low and yes, strain the tea, it should still be usable.
It was on high pressure, good thought about switching to low. Will do that next time. I strained it and just had to try it. OMG it is the BEST ever. Thank you, thank you. My go to drink for sure. On another note do you and your bestie like marmalade? If so we would love to send you some of our homemade pure Seville orange marmalade. If you are interested send me an email I think you have my email address and I will put one in the mail.
Yay!!! Midge, you just made my day, so glad you also love it. I have another batch going right now. My hubby likes marmalade and you know, I don’t think I have had very much to know for sure. I would be fascinated to try it and aren’t you a sweetie?!!! I will write you my address ASAP. Thank you!
That’s awesome! Never heard about it. I’ve ben making lots of iced tea at home because we love it, and it’s insane to buy jugs of tea all the time.
I’ll definjiely try this method (I adore my IP too, but I need to be more creative in using it. 😜)!
I’ll let you know how it goes! 😊
Oh yes, so much cheaper to make yourself Nydia, of course! Hey, I’ve had mine for years and I feel like I am just starting to hit my creative stride with it. Remember, low pressure OK?!
I’ll put on low for sure!
Susie – made our second batch today. Different tea bags, low pressure and the tea bags did not explode. Thanks for the suggestion. Delicious.
Woohoo!!! So glad that worked, thanks for letting me know Midge!
I’m wondering if it becomes bitter from the cooked lemons, as opposed to adding the fresh squeezed lemon juice and slices after it cools?
Cathy, I was shocked I didn’t notice bitterness from the lemons at all but of course you could just add the juice and slices after it cools. It will be less cloudy that way too. I just like the idea of the peel really infusing its flavour and no one has mentioned bitterness who has had it, at least not when I made it. I hope that helps!
if you do a NPR it won’t taste bitter as it will never come to a full boil! I find sugar makes it too sweet so i put in a few spoon of frozen lemonade concentrate, perfect light lemony taste !