Why Your Green Tea Tastes Bitter (and How to Fix It)

The bitterness in green tea comes from tannins — the same compounds that make red wine astringent. Tannins are released when the water is too hot, the leaves are too fine, or the steep time is too long. Most people brew green tea like they brew coffee: boiling water, 5 minutes, done. That's the fastest way to get a bitter cup.

The fix is simple. Use water that's 75–80°C, not boiling. Steep for 2 minutes, not 5. And use whole-leaf tea, not tea bags. Whole leaves release tannins slowly. Broken leaves and tea bags release everything at once, which is why they taste bitter.

If you're using a tea bag and it still tastes bitter, try this: put the bag in the cup, pour hot water over it, then immediately remove the bag after 30 seconds. Don't leave it steeping while you drink. The first 30 seconds gives you the flavor. The next 3 minutes gives you the bitterness.

At Nevisan, our whole-leaf teas are designed to be steeped multiple times. The first cup is bright and fresh. The second is deeper. The third is mellow. Each steep releases different compounds, so you get a range of flavors without the bitterness. Try it with our [Organic Green Tea](https://nevisan.in/products/organic-green-tea) — you'll notice the difference.