Why is my tea Bitter? There’s only one answer . . .
One of the issues we hear most often is, “I tried that tea, but it was bitter.” When your tea is bitter, there is typically only one reason: it was oversteeped. Try making it again, but steep it for less time. Typically the times listed on tea are the maximum time you should steep it, rather than the minimum time. So if your green tea says to steep for 1 minute, you should steep it for up to 1 minute.
A lot of times people steep tea longer thinking it will become a stronger brew (like coffee). However, tea is different. For a stronger cup of tea, use more tea and brew it for the same amount of time. If you are unsure about how long to brew a cup of tea, here are some general guidelines:
White Teas: Heat water to 175-180 degrees (before boiling) and steep for 1 - 1.5 minutes at most.
Green Teas: Heat water to 175-180 degrees (before boiling) and steep for 1 minute.
Oolong Teas: Heat water to 195-200 degrees (just before boiling) and steep for 3-4 minutes.
Black Teas: Heat water to 195-205 degrees (right at boiling) and steep for 2-3 minutes.
Herbal Teas: Heat water to just boiling and steep for 5-6 minutes.
If the tea has a recommended time on it, then use the time mentioned, but assume it is the maximum time, not the minimum.
There are always exceptions to the rule. Black teas can become a little bitter anyway. If so, a little milk will take away the bitterness, however it will also take away some of the health benefits. Herbal teas won’t become bitter (usually) since they don’t actually have tea leaves in them - technically herbal teas aren’t teas, but tisanes or infusions. And white teas are less likely to get bitter, since they haven’t been processed like the other teas.
Hope this helps you enjoy tea just a little bit more!