Brewing the perfect cup of tea can be a delightful experience, but it's not without its challenges. From bitter flavours to a cup full of tea leaves, many tea drinkers encounter common issues that can affect the quality of their brew. Here, we’ll troubleshoot some of the most common issues tea drinkers - new and experienced- often face.

There are tea leaves floating in my cup!

If you find tea leaves or sediment floating in your cup after steeping, it may be because you're using tea that's too finely ground or using a tea infuser with holes that are too large.

To prevent this, try using larger tea leaves or a finer mesh infuser to contain the leaves during steeping. Explore our range of tea brewing tools to find the right dimensions for your chosen tea!

My tea tastes bitter!

If your tea tastes bitter, it's likely due to over-brewing or using water that's too hot. To fix this, try reducing the brewing time or using slightly cooler water. 

As a general rule, brew black tea for 3-5 minutes using 100 degree water, and brew green tea for 2-4 minutes using 80 degree water to avoid burning your leaves.

My tea tastes weak!

If your tea tastes weak or bland, it may be because you didn't use enough tea leaves or didn't steep them long enough. Try increasing the amount of tea leaves or steeping them for a longer period to enhance the flavour.

We recommend using around 2g or 1 tsp of tea per cup and brewing according to our brewing guide.

Be mindful that if you add milk to your tea, adding too much can knock the flavour out of your tea, so pour with caution!

My Matcha has lumps in it!

If your matcha is lumpy, this means it likely wasn’t whisked properly - whisking aggressively is the key to a great cup of Matcha. 

When brewing matcha,  place the matcha powder in a bowl and add a small amount of warm (not boiling) water. Use a bamboo whisk (Chasen) to vigorously whisk the matcha and water together in a zig-zag motion until it forms a smooth, frothy consistency. Be sure to whisk quickly and evenly to break up any lumps.

I put too much milk in my tea!

One of the simplest ways to balance out the milkiness is to add more hot water to your tea. This will dilute the milk and tea mixture, reducing the overall milkiness of the drink.

If you have the time and ingredients, you can brew a stronger batch of tea separately and then mix it with your overly milky tea. This will help balance out the flavours and bring back the tea's original taste & body.

If all else fails, you can always brew another cup of tea and try again. It's a good opportunity to practice your tea-making skills and get it just right next time!

My tea tastes stale!

If your tea tastes flat or lacks complexity, it may be because the tea leaves are stale or have been stored improperly. On average, tea is best consumed within 2 years of purchase, and stored in a dry, cool place, such as an airtight container in your pantry to prevent any bugs from entering, or your leaves losing their flavour.

To fix this, try using fresher tea leaves and storing them in an airtight container away from light, heat, and moisture. Experimenting with different brewing techniques, such as using a different water temperature or steeping method, can also help enhance the flavour of your tea.

My tea is giving me heart palpitations!

It sounds like you might be after a caffeine-free option! If you need your tea fix but without the caffeine (this might be handy for those who like to enjoy multiple cups a day or an evening cuppa), why not try one of our Decaf Teas, or naturally caffeine free teas like Rooibos or one of our Herbal blends?

We hope this helps smooth out any issues you may have been facing when enjoying your tea!