How to Make Green Tea Without Bitterness: Expert Tips for a Perfect Brew Every Time

Green tea is celebrated for its fresh, grassy flavours and impressive health benefits. However, if you’ve ever brewed a cup only to find it unbearably bitter, you’re not alone. Many green tea beginners are put off by astringent, over-brewed tea, but the good news is—it's entirely avoidable!

As a certified tea sommelier, I've tasted hundreds of green teas, from Japanese Sencha to Chinese Longjing (Dragon Well). Along the way, I've learnt a few tricks to ensure every cup is smooth, refreshing, and never bitter. Read on for my top tips to make green tea like a pro!

Why Does Green Tea Taste Bitter?

Before we dive into the brewing techniques, it helps to understand why green tea can turn bitter:

• Oversteeping: Leaving the leaves in water too long releases excess tannins, leading to bitterness.
• Water Temperature: Most green teas are delicate. Boiling water can scorch the leaves, resulting in a harsh taste.
• Tea Quality: Lower-grade teas or old tea leaves are more likely to produce astringent flavours.

How to Make Green Tea Without Bitterness

1. Choose High-Quality Green Tea

Not all green teas are created equal. Look for whole leaf teas over tea bags, as they typically contain fewer broken leaves, which can lead to bitterness. Single-origin whole leaf teas, such as Longjing(Dragon Well), Anji Bai Cha and Enshi Yulu(Jade Dew), often offer a more refined, smoother taste.

2. Get the Water Temperature Just Right

The ideal water temperature for green tea is between 70°C to 80°C. Using boiling water (100°C) is one of the quickest ways to ruin green tea.

How to achieve the perfect temperature: Boil water and let it cool for about 5 minutes before brewing.

Tea Sommelier’s Tip: I use a temperature-controlled kettle at home, but when travelling, I simply wait for the water to cool to avoid any bitterness.

3. Use the Right Amount of Tea

The general rule is 1 teaspoon (around 3 grams) of tea leaves per 250ml cup. For larger teapots, adjust accordingly. Too many leaves can lead to an overpowering and bitter brew.

4. Time Your Steep

For green tea, steeping time should be between 1 to 3 minutes.

5. Experiment with Tea-to-Water Ratio

If your green tea still tastes bitter, try using fewer leaves or more water.

How to Make Iced Green Tea Without Bitterness

Love green tea but want a refreshing, cold version? Here’s how:

Cold Brew Method: Steep green tea leaves in cold water for 4 to 6 hours in the fridge. This method extracts only the sweet, delicate flavours without any bitterness.

My Favourite Summer Tip: Add a slice of lemon or a few mint leaves for an extra burst of freshness.

 

FAQs: How to Make Green Tea Without Bitterness

1. Can I add honey or sugar to green tea?

Yes, you can, but I recommend enjoying green tea plain to appreciate its natural sweetness. If you need to add sweetness, a small drizzle of honey works well.

2. Can green tea be rebrewed?

Absolutely! High-quality green tea leaves can often be rebrewed 2 to 3 times. Simply reduce the steeping time slightly for each additional brew.

3. Should I drink green tea hot or cold?

Both are great! Hot green tea is soothing, while cold green tea is refreshing. Just remember to brew correctly to avoid bitterness.