instant tea
Also known as: Unsweet Instant Tea
Tea that's been brewed, dried, and powdered so it dissolves directly in cold or hot water without steeping; a shortcut base for iced tea and tea-flavored drink mixes. Sold sweetened or unsweetened, and the two behave very differently as an ingredient since a sweetened mix adds sugar on top of tea flavor.
Buying guidance
Check the label for 'sweetened' versus 'unsweetened' before buying -- using a sweetened mix in something that also calls for its own sugar will make the result too sweet. The powder should be dry and free-flowing; caking or clumping in the container usually means moisture got in and it should be replaced.
Substitutions
- Strongly brewed black tea, cooled -- best flavor match, but adjust liquid elsewhere since brewed tea is far less concentrated than the powder.
- Sweetened powdered iced tea mix -- only if unsweetened was called for, and cut other added sugar to compensate.
Tips & common mistakes
It dissolves best in warm or hot liquid -- stirring it directly into a pitcher of cold water often leaves gritty undissolved specks floating on top, so dissolve it in a small amount of hot water first, then top up with cold.
Storage
As a dry powder it doesn't spoil the way fresh food does -- weak flavor from age or moisture is the main quality concern, not safety, so a well-sealed container can be kept a long time past any printed date.