Amazing Indian style tea with the delicate flavors of cardamom and dried rosebuds made in Instant Pot. And that’s what I am going to share today – Instant Pot dum chai with no supervision.
I hear the term chai tea a lot these days. But folks, chai means tea and tea means chai. When you say chai tea, it literally means “tea tea.” So either say chai or tea. :-) A humble request from me. Thanks.
I love my filter coffee, and my day starts with filter coffee. Being a South Indian, that doesn’t come as a surprise. ( But the surprising fact is I don’t have a filter coffee post on my blog, and I will be updating it soon with a video. So stay tuned. ) Let’s stick to our topic tea.
Tea is one of the popular beverages in India and also around the whole world. According to Wikipedia, tea was first introduced into India by the British in an attempt to break the Chinese monopoly on tea.
Tea was planted initially in Assam and then in Darjeeling, and then it spread across in the South as well. Now we have our own traditional tea, and India is one of the largest tea producers.
Tea Condiments:
I started drinking tea during my undergrad days. In the evenings, we used to get only tea in our hostel. So that’s how I started drinking tea. I got this routine of drinking coffee in the morning and tea in the evening.
Amma usually adds tulsi leaves (fresh or dried) and ginger to tea and sometimes cardamom. I was under the impression that we only add ginger and cardamom to tea for a long time.
But when I came to the US and started relishing our friends’ tea, I realized how wrong I was about tea condiments. Oh boy, there are so many condiments that we can add to tea to enhance its flavors.
Some of the new condiments that I started to add in our tea are fennel seeds, lemongrass, mint leaves, dried hibiscus, etc.
Rose Buds in Tea:
This summer I met some of my blogger friends and Priya who blogs at I Camp in my Kitchen gifted some amazing dried herbs like rosebuds, hibiscus, and lavender. She got it all the way from Dubai. And I am using the dried rosebud for this chai. You can also use good quality edible dried rose petals instead of rosebuds for this rose tea. 10 petals would be good for this measure.
Like how you can add different condiments to your tea, you can make tea in zillion ways. Right from boiling water and adding tea and milk-water proportion, adding condiments every family has their own recipe. I have shared what we like and how I make here.
Why Instant Pot Dum Chai?
I can hear you asking this question. Let me answer that first before the recipe and video.
I love making tea on the stove-top. There is no doubt about it. I love the fragrance of tea brewing, along with the condiments. During weekdays, I make tea only for myself and that too in the evening. Back then, with the toddler around and with all his classes, I started making mug tea in the microwave.
Microwave Tea –
I buy tea bags with different flavors. I microwave ½ cup of water for 1 minute and then steep in the tea bag and let it brew. After about two minutes or so, I discard the tea bag and add milk and sugar and microwave it again. That’s it.
When Instant Pot became popular, the Instant Pot tea became quite popular as well. I tried it as well. You don’t need to supervise(hands-free), and as you let the pressure release naturally, there is no need to check-in between either. I liked it, but I was resorting to my microwave method until I had to live without it. :-)
As I mentioned in the meal planner post, we are remodeling our kitchen and living room, and I don’t have all my appliances. I am managing with two Instant Pots and one induction stove. So I started making tea in Instant Pot again and realized how the flavors were so intense.
I posted a small video both on my Instagram and Reddit, and to my surprise, everyone liked it and tried. So, I decided to document it on my blog as well.
Instant Pot Dum Chai Video –
Check out my detailed dum chai video here.
Accessories Required for PIP Tea –
How to Make Cardamom and Rose Tea in Instant Pot / Pot in Pot Dum Chai:
I don’t make tea directly in the inner pot of the Instant Pot and I always use pot in pot method. I have tried this tea in both 3-quart and 6-quart, and both come out really well. Check the notes on how to make tea in the pressure cooker.
This is what you need for making the tea. Tea powder, milk, water, sugar, and condiments of your choice.
Make sure you take a tall vessel that fits well inside the instant pot when placed on a trivet. In that bowl, first add the tea, sugar, dried rosebud, and crushed green cardamom. Peeling off few petals enhances the flavor further.
Next, add the milk and water. Mix it nicely.
Add 1 cup of water to the inner pot and place the trivet and then place the tea vessel.
Pressure cook this for 3 minutes at high-pressure mode and let the pressure release naturally. Milk doesn’t curdle or anything. Please check the video. Open the Instant Pot, strain the tea.
Enjoy the hands-free hot tea. I served it with store-bought rusk. But you can always serve it with any biscotti or boiled peanut salad or spicy puffed rice or lotus seeds.
Things to Note While Making Tea in Instant Pot-
- Make sure your sealing ring is well-cleaned. If you have a separate sealing ring that you use for sweets, make sure to use that.
- In 6-qt, even though the vent is in sealing position, sometimes the valve doesn’t raise up. But don’t worry. The Instant Pot will continue to do its magic, and the count down will begin.
- I personally felt the tea made in 3-qt when cooked for 3 minutes was slightly strong when compared to the one made in 6-qt for 3 minutes. You can try three or four minutes of pressure cooking time or adjust the tea amount according to your preference.
- Serving Size – My measure serves one, or if you are limiting your caffeine intake, you can make it into two servings as well. You will approx 8oz /240ml of chai with my measure
- Scaling the recipe – I have tried making tea for 3 in Instant Pot. Make sure you use the inner vessel big enough to hold that amount. I haven’t tried making tea directly in the inner pot.
- Variations – Instead of rosebud, you can add dried rose petals or any other condiments like ginger, tulsi leaves, cardamom, fennel seeds, or even store-bought tea masala.
- Also, adjust the water and milk proportion and sugar as per your liking.
- Making Tea in Stove-Top Pressure Cooker – I have tried making the tea in my stove-top pressure cooker, both in 2litre and 4-liter ones. I follow the same procedure, but I pressure cook for 1 whistle and let the pressure subside naturally.
PS: Follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook Group for more gardening and recipe updates. If you try this Instant Pot Dum Chai recipe, please don’t forget to comment and rate this recipe. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will get to it asap. Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest for more healthy and delicious ideas!
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Tea | Dum Chai
Equipment
- Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 tsp black tea
- 2 tsp sugar or to taste
- 2 green cardamom crushed
- 1 dried rosebud
- ½ cup water 120 ml
- ½ cup milk I used 2% reduced-fat milk (120 ml)
Instructions
- Make sure you take a tall vessel that fits well inside the instant pot when placed on a trivet. In that bowl, first add the tea, sugar, dried rosebud, and crushed green cardamom. Peeling off few petals enhances the flavor further.
- Next, add the milk and water. Mix it nicely.
- Add 1 cup of water to the inner pot and place the trivet and then place the tea vessel.
- Pressure cook this for 3 minutes at high-pressure mode and let the pressure release naturally. Milk doesn't curdle or anything. Please check the video.
- Open the Instant Pot, strain the tea. Enjoy the hands-free hot tea.
Video
Notes
- Make sure your sealing ring is well-cleaned. If you have a separate sealing ring that you use for sweets, make sure to use that.
- In 6-qt, even though the vent is in sealing position, sometimes the valve doesn't raise up. But don't worry. The Instant Pot will continue to do its magic, and the count down will begin.
- I personally felt the tea made in 3-qt when cooked for 3 minutes for slightly strong when compared to the one made in 6-qt for 3 minutes. You can try three or four minutes of pressure cooking time or adjust the tea amount according to your preference.
- Serving Size - My measure serves one, or if you are limiting your caffeine intake, you can make it into two servings as well. You will approx 8oz /240ml of chai with my measure
- Scaling the recipe - I have tried making tea for 3 in Instant Pot. Make sure you use the inner vessel big enough to hold that amount. I haven't tried making tea directly in the inner pot.
- Variations - Instead of rosebud, you can add dried rose petals or any other condiments like ginger, tulsi leaves, cardamom, fennel seeds, or even store-bought tea masala.
- Also, adjust the water and milk proportion and sugar as per your liking.
- Making Tea in Stove-Top Pressure Cooker - I have tried making the tea in my stove-top pressure cooker, both in 2litre and 4-liter ones. I follow the same procedure, but I pressure cook for 1 whistle and let the pressure subside naturally.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
ruchika says
looking forward for your recipe of masala chai in cup in microwave.. i would also appreciate if you can give me tips on how to keep house hair free from golden shedding
ruchika says
also can you please tell ratio and tea bags you used for making masala chai in microwave in a cup. love ur golden.. i too have golden..
Srividhya G says
Thanks. Goldens are the best.
Ruchika says
Can you please update your accessories link for dum chai
Srividhya G says
Just updated it. I think the one that I bought is out of stock. So I have included another one. Thanks for letting me know.
ruchika says
thanks… i will try the recipe . we love tea but i hate baby sitting it.
Srividhya G says
:-) Thanks. I am sure you will love it.
ruchika says
also can you please tell ratio and tea bags you used for making masala chai in microwave in a cup
Srividhya G says
I use tea bags pa. I am yet to share my own chai masala here on the blog.
ruchika says
thanks dear
Srividhya G says
Thanks
Sowmya says
Do i have yo double the size if I double the content?
Srividhya G says
Sorry I am not getting it. If you making for more people, you need to double the measure and yes need a bit inner pot that will fit the IP. Let me if I misunderstood.
Sowmya says
If i double the content do I have to double the time too?
Srividhya G says
No you don’t need to increase the time.
Iswarya Lalith says
Vidhya,
This is one of my favorites until now. I am living with this now :)
Thank you so much for this awesome recipe.
Srividhya G says
Thankoooo:-)
Preethy says
Loved your way of making chai. I tried this method and it is very good and timesaver on working days, when we dont need to babysit.Thank you for all the tips.
Srividhya G says
Thanks so much. :-)
Bala Rajasekharan says
Hi Vidya,
Can’t wait to try this. You made it look simple and easy.
I’m eagerly awaiting your filter coffee recipe. Being from Chennai this is the most I miss in US.
Bala
Srividhya G says
Thanks a lot. I will sure post the filter coffee recipe soon.
Mamatha says
Looks great! Iam defo trying this one. Btw love your tea cups? Can I please ask where you got them? Thanks
Srividhya G says
Thanks a lot. I hope you like it. I got those cups as gifts. They are from Chennai for sure bt I don’t know other details. Let me check.
Priya says
Please let us know where u got the tea cup
It’s soo pretty
Srividhya G says
I got it as a gift from our friends pa. It’s from Chennai.