Reasons Why Your Cup of Tea Tastes Bad | How to make your tea taste good

Every Indian household has its own sacred tea ritual. From the clinking of kettles to the spicy steam of adrak (ginger) or elaichi (cardamom) wafting through the kitchen, chai is not just a beverage, it’s an emotion.

But let’s admit it. We’ve all had those disappointing tea moments when the first sip feels like betrayal, bitter, bland, too watery, or just… off. You followed your usual routine. You used your favourite mug. So what went wrong?

Turns out, making a good cup of tea isn’t just throwing tea leaves into hot water and hoping for the best. There’s science, history, and a little bit of art involved. 

Well, I don’t mean to be a Negative Nancy with this post, but bad tasting tea can happen, and it is not a fun experience. However, there are some reasons a tea can taste bad, and the blame should not be entirely on the tea itself. 

I recently hosted a tea workshop, and the biggest takeaway was that even though all tea comes from the same plant, there are different ways to prepare each type. For example, a common dislike among new tea drinkers is green tea because it always tastes bitter. There are some key tips to keep in mind when making green tea so that you will like it, but these tips are actually beneficial for any type of tea. 

If you have ever found yourself wondering why a certain tea tastes bad, take a further look at how the cup of tea was prepared. 

A Brief Tea History For Context

Tea’s journey to India is a tale of culture, empire, and adaptation. Though brewed leaves were consumed in China as early as the 3rd century CE, it was the British East India Company in the 1820s that turned Assam’s wild Camellia sinensis into a global commodity, breaking China’s monopoly and planting tea gardens across Darjeeling and Nilgiris. Back then, the British chugged strong black teas with milk and sugar. Today, India boasts a thriving tea culture, from masala chai stalls on Delhi’s streets to artisanal green teas in Mumbai cafés.

Why Does My Tea Taste Bad?

I’m a big supporter of making tea however you like it, but this is where those tea making guides can come in handy. Before you write off a certain tea for good, consider some of the points below to make a better cup!

1. The water you’re using might not be the best

“Water is the mother of tea.”

This isn’t usually something you think might affect your cup of tea, but it is essentially flavoured water; therefore, lower quality water can result in bad tasting tea.

Look at the purity and hardness of your water. The mineral content, chlorine and ph levels can affect both the flavour and aroma of the tea, even if it's subtle. Try filtering your water (tap water quality varies from place to place) or using spring water, and see if you notice a difference. If you like the taste of your water, though, then it might not be the culprit.

Also, if you just think your tea tastes bad because it is bitter, then it’s not so much about the pH levels in your water as it is about the temperature of your water.

What to do: 

• If you live in a city like Delhi, Gurgaon, or Bangalore, where hard water is common, consider using filtered or bottled water for making tea.

• Boil water fresh each time. Never reboil. Reboiled water loses oxygen and alters taste.

• A study published in the Journal of Food Science actually showed that the pH and mineral content of water can significantly affect the flavor extraction of tea. Yes, tea science is real.

2. The water you’re using might just be too hot

One of the top reasons why people think their tea (especially green!) is super bitter is because of the temperature of their water. The right water temperature to use depends on the type of tea. 

There are some tea leaves that are very delicate and can actually burn if the water is too hot. If that happens, then you may experience bitterness. Follow the temperature recommendation on the package of your tea.

Personally, I think a variable temperature kettle is a great investment when it comes to making green tea. You can set the temperature you need your water to be at, and not have to worry about it. However, you can definitely still make great tea with a regular kettle. A cooking thermometer is an excellent and affordable tool to have on hand to make sure you heat water to the ideal temperature!

Temperature Guidelines

• Black & herbal teas: 95–100 °C (boiling)

• Oolong teas: 85–90 °C

• Green & white teas: 70–80 °C to avoid “cooking” delicate leaves

What to do:

• Green tea? Water should be hot but not boiling.

• Black tea? Go ahead and boil, but not for more than 3-4 minutes.

• Herbal teas like chamomile or tulsi? Use boiling water, but steep gently.

3. Your tea to water ratio might be off

If you ever feel like your tea just tastes like hot water and you really can’t get any flavour, you may not have used enough tea leaves for the amount of water. If you ever feel like your tea is way too strong, then you may have used too many leaves for the amount of water.

In some cases, like when it comes to cooking with tea, you can use more leaves than water, but that’s more for when you need to make a tea concentrate and not just a cup to drink.

The standard ratio is usually about 1 teaspoon of tea leaves to 1 cup of water. But, again, use the recommended amount the tea company suggests first, as it may differ for teas. To measure your tea, you can use a small scale (grams) or those handy “perfect” teaspoons.

4. You might be steeping your tea for too long

How long you should steep a tea all depends on the type of tea. For instance, your green tea should not steep for the same amount of time as your black tea. I know some people prefer stronger tasting teas, but if you really want that, then you would add more tea leaves, and not more time. 

It’s important not to oversteep your tea because when the tea leaves are over extracted, it can result in that not-so-great taste.  I usually like to follow the suggested steeping time that the company the tea comes from recommends. Then, if I feel like that was too light or too strong, I’ll adjust the time to my taste. Setting a timer might help, too!

5. You’re adding too much masala

We get it. Masala chai is divine. There’s nothing like the kick of ginger, the sweetness of cardamom, or the earthy aroma of tulsi.

But, and this might hurt to hear, too many spices can ruin your tea.

When we throw in everything from laung to kali mirch to cinnamon sticks and then simmer it like a curry, the delicate flavour of tea leaves gets lost in the chaos. What you end up drinking is spiced milk with a vague tea background score.

What to do:

• Pick 2-3 spices max for your masala chai.

• Let the spices steep for a minute before adding tea leaves, not the other way around.

• Freshleaf’s Cutting Chai gets this balance just right, it’s got the zing of ginger, the minty warmth of cardamom, and subtle fennel, all harmonizing with Assam black tea, not overpowering it.

6. You’re using low-quality or old tea

“Life is too short for bad tea.”

It’s not you, it’s the tea. Just like there can be lower quality water, there can be lower quality tea, and not just from commercial tea bags. The materials used to make teabags can distort the taste of your tea, and most teabags are filled with tea dust, but this doesn’t mean all loose leaf tea is the best. Purchase your tea from a reputable source, always.

Even if you think it is a high-quality tea, there is a chance that it is just old. I don’t mean old as it’s unsafe to drink, just old enough to make it no longer fresh and possibly stale tasting. 

Try finding the same tea from a different source and compare it to the one you don’t enjoy. Just because that one tea is of lower quality or has gone stale, doesn’t mean there isn't another quality of it out there that will be better.

Signs your tea has gone bad:

• It smells like cardboard or a kitchen spice rack

• The liquor (the brewed tea) looks dull and lifeless

• It tastes flat or weirdly musty

What to do:

• Always store tea in airtight containers, away from light and spices.

• Try buying in smaller quantities if you don’t drink tea every day.

• Choose high-quality teas from trusted sources. Freshleaf, for instance, offers handpicked, whole-leaf teas that are packed fresh and full of aroma, whether you like your mornings zesty with Cutting Masala, soothing with Chamomile, or invigorating with Kashmiri Kahwa. We’re not about the dust you find in tea bags. We’re about flavor that speaks. 

7. You’re using the wrong utensils

We don’t talk enough about this, but your utensils matter. Aluminium kadhais, old stainless steel pans with scorched bottoms, or non-stick pans that have seen better days, all affect taste. 

Tea reacts with metals. While stainless steel is relatively neutral, aluminium can alter flavor, especially if you steep tea directly in it. Also, avoid brewing tea in the same vessel where you cook. That leftover sabzi smell? It clings. 

What to do:

• Invest in a small dedicated saucepan just for tea.

• Better yet, try using a glass kettle or a ceramic teapot for herbal and green teas.

• Clean immediately after use; leftover residue or scorched milk can carry over weird flavors. 

8. You’re rushing the ritual

We live in a fast world- 2-minute noodles, instant DMs, and express delivery. But tea, my friend, was never meant to be rushed. In Japan, there’s the Chanoyu, a centuries-old tea ceremony that turns tea into a spiritual experience. In China, tea is served in multiple rounds as a sign of respect and bonding. Even in our Indian homes, remember how Dadi or Nani would brew tea with patience and love, never on full blast. 

But now? We microwave water, dip a tea bag for 30 seconds, and expect magic.

What to do:

• Slow down, let the tea steep the way it wants to

• Let aromas rise, let colors change, let your mind pause.

• Think of it not as making tea, but creating a small daily ritual.

9. The tea might just not be for you!

Finally, if all of the tips above don’t apply, then, as this point states, it may just not be your cup of tea. I don’t like every single tea out there, and I’m sure there are other regular tea drinkers who do not as well. 

Over time, your palate will develop, therefore, you should consider revisiting this tea in the future. Your thoughts on it just might change! But, until then, set it aside and make yourself a cup of something you know you will take time to enjoy because that’s what tea is all about. 

Why Freshleaf’s Tea Might Be The Best Choice For You!

At Freshleaf, we believe that your tea experience should be joyful, not just habitual. That’s why we source our teas directly from the gardens of Assam, the hills of Darjeeling, and the foothills of the Himalayas. No middlemen, no compromises. 

Whether it’s our Cardamom Spiced Tea that makes your evening snack time better, or the Moroccan Mint green tea that freshens up your afternoon lull, our blends are crafted for both health and happiness. And now, with our new Sparkling Tea range, we’re blending traditional tea wisdom with modern refreshment. Think fizz, think fun, think fresh. Because tea, just like India, is ever-evolving. 

Conclusion

Bad tea isn’t always about bad ingredients. Often, it’s the little things, the water, the pan, the temperature, or the rush. The next time your tea disappoints you, pause and investigate. There’s probably a small tweak waiting to be made. 

Because tea is not just a beverage in India. It’s the excuse we give to take a break. The warmth we offer to guests. The reason we linger longer on a phone call. So the next time someone says, “Ek cup chai pila do,” make sure it’s a cup worth remembering.