The Best Instant Teas Of 2024
Tea is a drink that either you love it or you hate it. Some people like their tea to be sweet and others like it to be plain.
Then, of course, you get into how strong you want your tea to be or if you like to have flavored tea. There are just so many things to consider here.
Instant tea is a great option. You can get different varieties and flavors but it is so convenient because it just comes in a powder and you can instantly mix yourself up one glass of tea at your leisure.
We like instant tea for its simple nature and convenience, particularly if you want to drink the tea cold.
What are the best instant teas? Any high-quality tea brand should be reliable for instant tea. Look for brands with few to no added fillers, flavors, or sugar to indicate quality, as you can always add your own additions. You may want to choose one that is the right kind of tea (such as black or matcha) for your taste.
There are a lot of options out there. You really can’t go wrong with the classic Lipton brand instant tea. Lipton has always been known for their quality teas and they are reliable. This one is our number one pick but there are multiple options.
In this guide, we will walk you through detailed reviews of the 5 best instant teas on the market.
We will share with you just what instant tea is and how you can make it as well as provide you with all of the relevant information that you need to know!
A Complete Guide to Instant Teas
Instant tea is not for everyone but it is for a lot of people, particularly if you prefer cold teas.
There is no brewing or steeping involved, just a simple mix of powder and you have your tea right in front of you. You can make iced tea and be ready to go in a matter of minutes!
As we progress through this guide, we have a lot of great information about instant tea to share with you.
Let’s get started!
What is Instant Tea?
Instant tea comes in powder form. When you add water to it, the powder instantly turns into a magical cup of tea.
Some people think it’s not a natural form of tea or that it won’t taste the same so they don’t use it.
But instant tea is not a new thing. Instant tea has actually been around for more than a century.
The original instant tea took quite a bit of effort to create and was more like a paste. Eventually, spray drying technology came about and that is when instant tea made its transformation to powder form.
This technology is what paved the way to have a concentrated powder that would not damage or alter the tea.
Instant tea can come in various flavors and types. You can have original unsweetened tea, black tea, matcha, and many other options.
Instant tea is so easy to work with and it’s incredibly convenient. It’s great for tea on-the-go or any quick production of a single glass of tea. The flavor is as it should be, much like if you were to steep your own tea bags to make tea.
Does Powdered Iced Tea Have Caffeine?
Powdered iced tea usually does have caffeine. This is usually a light amount – about 5 milligrams per fluid ounce of tea. You should assume that powdered or instant tea does contain caffeine unless it is marked otherwise.
Most tea is caffeinated naturally, unless it is an herbal tea. Herbal teas typically are caffeine-free.
It is possible to find caffeine-free tea options but for the most part, you should anticipate that instant tea will have a small amount of caffeine in it.
Keep in mind that nearly all tea is caffeinated unless you specifically purchase a decaffeinated tea or an herbal tea. If you specifically need something without caffeine, you may have to do some additional digging to find a good option.
Instant Tea Brands We Love
We’ve selected 5 of our favorite tea options for you:
| Rank | Product | Tea Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Lipton Unsweetened Iced Tea Mix | Decaf. black iced tea |
| 2. | TEAKi Hut Instant Black Tea Powder | Unsweet black tea |
| 3. | Waka Coffee Quality Instant Tea | Kenyan black tea |
| 4. | Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea Powder | Matcha green tea |
| 5. | Purisure All-Natural Instant Tea | Black iced tea |
In this section, we will provide you with a review of our top 5 choices. We will share what’s to love and give you a few pros and cons for each instant tea we share as well.
1. Lipton Unsweetened Iced Tea Mix
Lipton makes its way into our number one spot because you simply can’t go wrong with Lipton.
This particular option from Lipton is unsweetened black iced tea. It is made with real tea leaves and tastes great!
This is a big canister that will make a total of 30 quarts by the time it’s said and done.
You can make large portions or single glasses. This option is decaffeinated, which can sometimes be hard to find in instant tea options.
Pros:
- 3-pack of canisters
- Sizable canisters make 30 quarts
- Decaffeinated tea
- Made with real tea leaves
Cons:
- This comes in glass jars and the packaging can sometimes be troublesome for online orders.
2. TEAKi Hut Instant Black Tea Powder
Teaki Hut is a great brand that produces 100% pure tea. There are no additives or fillers or artificial ingredients.
You can purchase this in either a 4-ounce or 2-ounce package, which serves 192 or 96 servings, respectively.
There is only one ingredient used in this tea, which is pure ground tea leaves. It can be made hot or cold and is a healthy option.
This brand promotes that they will be your favorite tea, guaranteed. If you don’t love the tea, they have a money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- 100% pure tea
- Can be used hot or cold
- Made with ground black tea leaves
- Love it guarantee
Cons:
- It has a light flavor so you may need to use more than the recommended portion for the right flavor.
3. Waka Coffee Quality Instant Tea
Don’t be fooled by the name coffee, that is just part of the brand name. This is instant black tea powder that is made from 100% tea leaves. It also contains no artificial ingredients.
This option from Waka Coffee comes in a 4.5-ounce bag and contains 225 servings.
This tea has a bold, full flavor. It can be mixed with hot or cold water to make your tea. It is a simple tea solution with really good ratings and recommendations.
This tea also comes in a re-sealable bag to keep it fresh between uses.
Pros:
- Re-sealable bag
- 100% pure black tea leaves
- Suitable with hot or cold water
- Bold and flavorful
Cons:
- The recommended measurement is pretty weak and you may need to use more to get the flavor you want.
4. Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea Powder
Here is an alternative to the traditional black tea instant powder. Matcha is a form of green tea and offers a lot of health benefits.
You can use this powder for instant tea or add to smoothies and even baking products. It’s quite versatile.
Matcha has a green tea flavor that is light. This option is made with organic green tea leaves that are grown in Japan.
It is pure and organic. Enjoy your tea with all of the health benefits. You can even mix this tea powder with a black tea if you prefer the flavor.
Pros:
- Matcha offers a lot of health benefits
- 100% organic green tea leaves
- Unsweetened with a light flavor
- Can be used for baking and smoothies as well
Cons:
- Not many servings per package for the price.
5. Purisure All-Natural Instant Tea
Here is another really great instant tea option. This is a black tea powder that is pure and is also quality assured.
This is designed for instant iced tea. It is caffeinated naturally with the black tea leaves.
There are no artificial fillers or ingredients, just the ground black tea leaves. It’s easy to use and tastes really great.
The company offers a satisfaction guarantee. If you don’t love it, you get your money back with no questions asked.
Pros:
- Pure black tea leaves
- No artificial ingredients
- Made for instant iced tea
- Love it guarantee
Cons:
- The consistency is slightly grainy.
How to Make Instant Tea
Making instant tea is incredibly simple. Every package is different so we recommend that you follow the instructions on the package that you purchase.
For one serving, you will use the recommended measurement or scoop and simply add water and stir to dissolve. Then, voila! You have tea!
Related Questions
We hope you find this guide to the best instant tea to be a valuable resource for finding a good tea for your household. There are 5 really great options here.
We invite you to review the following question and answer section for some additional information that could be helpful.
Is Instant Tea Good for You?
Be sure to watch the ingredient list of the tea you purchase to know whether there is anything in the mix that could be unhealthy. Instant tea, consumed in moderation, offers the same benefits as tea bags.
Can Instant Tea Be Stronger?
Most instant tea is actually lighter in flavor than what you may be used to from steeped tea using tea bags.
You can increase the amount of powder that you use in order to make the flavor stronger. You can also decrease the powder if necessary.
