How to Make Perfect Tea: Avoid These 7 Common Errors

You consider yourself a fairly competent adult. You can cook, you can brew coffee, so why does your tea keep turning out... wrong? That murky, over-steeped mess in your mug isn’t your fault. From water temperature myths to steeping time mistakes, there are sneaky errors that trip up even the most capable people. To help you out, the tea connoisseurs at Umbi Tea & Coffee have broken down the seven most common tea blunders, including some you didn’t know you were making, and how to fix them in under five minutes. Your perfect cuppa is just a few adjustments away.

Don’t abandon your loose leaf teas and revert to grocery store tea bags. We’ll convince you it’ll be worth it—and easily rectifiable.

Mistake #1: The One-Temperature-Fits-All Approach

Many tea drinkers unknowingly sabotage their brew by using boiling water for every type of tea. While robust black teas and herbal infusions can handle the heat, delicate green and white teas become bitter and astringent when scalded. The secret lies in matching your water temperature to your tea variety—think 75–80°C for delicate greens, 90–95°C for oolongs, and full rolling boil for black teas and herbals. If you don’t have a thermometre, simply let boiling water rest for a few minutes before pouring over sensitive leaves. Watching the bubbles can help too; small “shrimp eye” bubbles indicate the perfect temperature for green teas.

Mistake #2: The Eternal Steep

Leaving your tea to steep indefinitely might seem harmless, but time is the silent architect of flavour. What begins as a pleasant brew can quickly turn into a bitter, mouth-puckering concoction as tannins continue to extract. Most teas reach their peak between 3-5 minutes, with delicate varieties needing less time and hearty herbals often benefitting from longer steeping. The key is to respect the clock (set a timer if you must) and remember that if you prefer stronger tea, you should use more leaves rather than more time.

Mistake #3: Improper Tea Storage

That beautiful glass jar on your counter might showcase your tea collection attractively, but it’s slowly robbing your leaves of their vitality. Tea is surprisingly sensitive to its environment, vulnerable to light, air, heat and moisture. The best way to preserve freshness is to store tea in an opaque, airtight container kept in a cool, dark place. Avoid locations near heat sources like stoves or windows where temperature fluctuates. And while buying in bulk might seem economical, purchasing smaller quantities more frequently ensures you’re always brewing with tea at its peak.

Mistake #4: Water Quality Oversights

The hidden variable in every cup of tea is the water itself. Hard water high in minerals can flatten flavours and leave an unappealing film on the surface, while reboiled water loses oxygen content, resulting in a dull, lifeless brew. For the best results, start with fresh, filtered water each time you brew. If your tap water leaves scale in your kettle, it’s definitely compromising your tea. A simple carbon filter can make a world of difference, and for special teas, consider using spring water to let their true character shine.

Mistake #5: The Overcrowded Infuser

A common misstep with loose leaf tea is stuffing too many leaves into a small infuser, thinking more leaves equals better flavour. While generous portions are good, cramped leaves can’t properly expand and circulate, leading to uneven extraction where some leaves over-steep while others barely contribute. The best brews come from leaves that have room to unfurl completely, releasing their full spectrum of flavours gradually and evenly. Choose an infuser or teapot that gives your leaves ample space, ideally one that’s at least twice the volume of your dry leaves. For reference, most leaves will expand to 3-4 times their dry size. If your infuser looks packed before adding water, you’re likely stifling your tea’s true potential.

Mistake #6: Eyeballing Measurements

While cooking often benefits from intuitive measurements, tea preparation responds best to precision. Using too few leaves results in a weak, insipid cup, while too many can create an overpowering brew. The standard guideline of one teaspoon per eight ounces of water is just a starting point, with dense teas like gunpowder green requiring less volume than fluffy white teas or large-leaf oolongs. For those serious about their tea, a small digital scale removes all guesswork, but careful visual assessment can work nearly as well once you develop an eye for it.

Mistake #7: Sticking to the Familiar

In the vast world of tea, limiting yourself to one type or brand is like only ever eating plain toast. Each tea-growing region, harvest season, and processing method creates unique flavour profiles worth exploring. Branch out beyond your usual breakfast blend. For instance, try a Taiwanese high-mountain oolong with creamy texture for a change. Seasonal variations mean even your favourite tea can offer new surprises throughout the year.

The Perfect Cup Awaits at Umbi Tea & Coffee

Now that you’re ready to dodge those common brewing mistakes, every cup you make can be a little moment of perfection. But if you’d rather skip the trial and error and just enjoy tea at its absolute best—we’ve got you covered at Umbi Tea & Coffee.

Our tea experts have handpicked an amazing lineup of premium loose-leaf teas from the world’s top growing regions, and we brew each one with just the right temperature, timing and care. Whether you’re into rare single-estate teas, curious about traditional brewing methods, or just want a flawless cup in a cosy spot, we’ll help you find your new favourite.

So come on by—the water’s always perfectly heated, and there’s always something delicious steeping. We can’t wait to share a cup with you.

Visit us at Sentul City, Ruko CBD Niaga, Lokasi tepat di belakang proyek berpagar hijau, Jalan Hr Rasuna Said Blok B2, Citaringgul, Kec. Babakan Madang, Kabupaten Bogor, Jawa Barat 16810, Indonesia.