The 7 Most Common Mistakes We Make When Making Tea (and how to fix them so we can truly enjoy it)

Tea is one of the simplest beverages in the world. And yet… we often make small mistakes that completely change what we drink.
Little details make a huge difference in flavor, aroma, and the overall experience. Let’s take a look at the most common ones.

1. Pouring boiling water over all teas
The most common — and most “destructive” — mistake.

Delicate leaves (green, white, jasmine) burn at 90°C and release bitterness instead of aroma. Then we say, “I don’t like green tea” — when in reality, we just didn’t make it properly.

 Tip: Never let the water reach a full boil. Take it off the heat before it starts boiling. For delicate teas, wait 2 minutes for the temperature to drop further.



2. Letting it steep “until we remember it”
Tea is not soup!

The longer it stays in water, the more tannins are released — and they bring bitterness and astringency.

 Tip: Use a timer. Otherwise, pause what you’re doing and let it steep 3–5 minutes before removing it from the water.

3. Steeping the same tea multiple times
High-quality loose-leaf teas can indeed be steeped 2, 3, or 4 times. But tea bags? Not so much! Then we say, “It has no flavor,” and add honey, sugar, or lemon… and the tea disappears.

4. Using reboiled water
Reboiled water has less oxygen and makes the tea flat and flavorless.

 Tip: Always use fresh water from the tap or a filter.

5. Storing it incorrectly
Next to coffee, spices, in the fridge… and then we wonder why green tea smells like cumin.

Tea is very sensitive to light, air, humidity, and odors.

 Tip: Airtight container, dark place, away from strong smells and moisture.

6. Underestimating tea bags and paper filters
No, not all are bad. There are excellent tea bags. Also, the paper does not affect flavor!

 Tip: Check what’s inside the tea bag — not whether it’s a bag.



7. Drinking the same tea all the time
And that’s how we miss the best part: the exploration

There are hundreds of flavors, varieties, and blends for different seasons, moods, and times of day.

 Tip: Change your tea like you change your playlist. Experiment!

Final conclusion
Good tea isn’t about technical perfection. It’s about small choices that show care.

And if you make any of these mistakes — perfect. It means there’s room to enjoy it even more.

At madras.gr, you’ll find teas worth that little extra care.