Brewing Troubleshooting

Introduction

When a cup of tea disappoints, the cause is almost always identifiable and correctable. This troubleshooting guide addresses the most common problems, their likely causes, and specific solutions.

Problem: Tea Is Bitter

Likely causes: Water too hot, steeped too long, or too much leaf. Bitterness comes from excessive catechin extraction. Fix: Reduce temperature by 5-10 C. Reduce steep time by 30 seconds. If using a scale, reduce leaf by 0.5-1g. For green tea specifically, ensure water is below 80 C.

Problem: Tea Is Weak and Flavorless

Likely causes: Not enough leaf, water too cool, steep time too short, or stale tea. Fix: Increase leaf amount (the safest adjustment). If the tea is more than 12 months old (green) or 3+ years old (black/oolong without specific aging intent), it may be past its prime. Check storage conditions.

Problem: Tea Is Astringent (Dry, Puckering)

Likely causes: Over-extraction from time, temperature, or both. Astringency differs from bitterness — it is a tactile sensation caused by polyphenols binding to saliva proteins. Fix: Reduce steep time first, then temperature if needed. Some astringency is desirable in black tea and Dan Cong — the goal is balance, not elimination.

Problem: Tea Tastes Flat or Lifeless

Likely causes: Poor water quality (too soft/distilled, stale water, or over-filtered). Re-boiled water with depleted oxygen. Fix: Use fresh, filtered water with 50-150 ppm TDS. Always start with fresh water — do not re-boil from the previous session.

Problem: Tea Has Off-Flavors (Musty, Soapy, Metallic)

Likely causes: Contaminated water (chlorine, chloramine), dirty brewing vessel, or improperly stored tea that has absorbed ambient odors. Fix: Sniff your water — if you detect chlorine, use a carbon filter. Thoroughly clean vessels with plain hot water (no soap residue). Check tea storage for proximity to strong-scented items.

Problem: Pu-erh Tastes Like Fish or Compost

Likely causes: Shu pu-erh that has not been properly aired after production, or storage in overly humid conditions. Fix: Break the cake apart and let it air in a clean, dry environment for 1-2 weeks. Perform two rinse washes before brewing. If the off-flavor persists, the tea may have a fundamental quality issue.