*Updated in July 2021 to include tips for preventing a bitter tea.
This all natural Instant Pot Iced Green Tea uses honey as a sweetener and takes only 4 minutes in the pressure cooker. It's a refreshing thirst-quencher all year long!
Table Of Contents
With just 3 ingredients and 45 minutes, you can have a homemade iced green tea ready to be enjoyed.
When making tea in the Instant Pot there is no need to boil the water or steep the tea— the pressure cooker does it all for you. Simply add the water and tea bags to the pot, set to pressure cook and then sweeten with honey.
This Instant Pot Iced Green Tea is the pressure cooker version of my favorite honey iced green tea. My family drinks this in place of store bought iced tea because it's quick, easy and healthier than store bought tea. One of our other favorites is strawberry sweet tea.
Why Should I Make Tea In The Instant Pot
- It's easy
- You can make a large batch, more than is possible in a traditional tea kettle (great for holidays and parties!)
- It's healthier than store-bought iced tea and contains no additives
- Inexpensive- a 1 gallon jug costs about $2
And while it's delicious poured over ice, you can also serve it hot.
You need only 3 ingredients to make Instant Pot iced green tea:
- Green tea bags: Bigelow 100% Premium Organic Green Tea bags are my favorite. I buy the bulk box so I always have it on hand.
- Honey: pure, locally sourced honey from a farmer is always the best choice if available to you
- Water
Iced green tea was one of the first homemade alternatives to a store bought product that I started making, and I've never gone back! Here are some more ideas if you're looking to replace products with their homemade versions.
More Homemade Alternatives to Store Bought Products
- Homemade Greek Yogurt
- Homemade Lemonade
- Easy Thin Crust Pizza Dough
- Bread Machine White Bread
- Homemade Spinach Pasta Dough
- Instant Pot Salsa
Step-By-Step Directions
Making iced tea in a pressure cooker is incredibly easy. Use 1 cup of water per tea bag. So for 8 cups of tea, add 8 cups of water and 8 tea bags (with the strings removed) to the pressure cooker. Seal the lid and set to pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. When complete, allow a full natural release to avoid bitter tea.
Discard tea bags and pour tea into a pitcher. Add the honey (or other sweetener) and stir. Then taste and sweeten more if desired.
Refrigerate until chilled and pour over ice to serve. Add garnishings, such as mint, basil, or a squeeze of lemon if desired.
This recipe can also be served hot.
Green tea can sometimes have a bitter taste, but there are ways to counteract that. Always allow the pressure cooker to complete a full natural release when done to avoid the tea turning bitter.
Additional sugar, honey, and a little fresh lemon juice all help to counter any bitterness.
If you feel the tea is slightly bitter after making the recipe as is, add more honey 1 tablespoon at a time. Add white sugar 2 tablespoons at a time, since it is not as strong as honey. Squeeze lemon slices into individual serving glasses or the entire jug, 1 slice at a time.
It's also important not to squeeze the tea bags into the water when done, as this can also cause a bitter tea.
*I have never had bitter green tea when using the Bigelow brand. However, if you use something different, the strength and bitterness may vary.
Instant Pot iced green tea can be altered by changing the sweetener, strength of the tea, and flavors.
Sweetener: substitute the honey with equal parts white sugar, stevia, coconut sugar, sugar in the raw, or other sugar sweetener. You can also leave the sweetener out entirely.
Brew Strength: this recipe uses 1 tea bag per cup of water for a medium-intensity tea. For a stronger green tea, use 1 tea bag per 6 oz of water. For a milder tea, use 1 tea bag per 10 oz of water. You may need to play around with it a few times to find the perfect strength for you.
Flavors: use the same method and ingredient ratios to make regular iced tea and all other flavored tea varieties. You may need to adjust the amount of water and tea bags to get the tea how you like it
💡 Tip: If tea is too strong dilute it with water, 1 cup at a time.
Serving Suggestions
Iced green tea is even more delicious served with a squeeze of lemon or garnished with fresh sweet mint leaves.
Chai, ginger and vanilla are also flavors that go well with green tea. Add a dash of ginger or vanilla extract to the jug of finished tea for a unique twist on traditional green tea.
Instant Pot iced green tea is a great beverage for serving at summer barbecues, Mother's Day brunch, Father's Day by the grill, and picnics.
Try it at your next summer gathering paired with Grilled Lime Chicken for dinner, Summer Berry Salad with Yogurt Dressing for dessert, and Syrian Potato Salad with mint and parsley!
Recipe
Instant Pot Iced Green Tea
Equipment
- pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 8 green tea bags, strings removed
- 8 cups water
- ⅓ cup honey
Instructions
- Add water and tea bags to the pressure cooker (place tea bags in a steamer basket and submerge in the water for easy removal). Seal the lid and set to pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
- Allow a full natural release, then open and discard tea bags. *Do not squeeze the tea bags into the finished tea as this can result in cloudy and/or bitter tea.
- Add the honey while the tea is still hot. Stir, taste and sweeten more if desired.
- Refrigerate until chilled and pour over ice to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy another fun way to use your Instant Pot, and will let me know how this recipe turned out in the comments below. Enjoy!
Rudi Pittman
I have made regular tea in the instant pot using 4 family size tea bags to make a full 6 quart pot of tea strong enough for my tastes with no bitterness. I'm looking forward to trying a batch of this green tea since I'm supposed to cut back on my caffeine intake. I have been growing mint in a container garden and wondered if I can add some mint leaves to the brewing process rather than just adding to cup. Any recommendations on amount or is it a bad idea?
Kristina
I think adding mint leaves is a great idea! The amount would depend on how strong of a mint flavor you'd like- maybe start with a cup of fresh mint leaves for a full batch and see how that works out.