Decaf green tea is a great option for those who want to enjoy the taste of tea without the caffeine. However, it can sometimes have a bitter flavor.

This is often caused by the decaffeination process used to remove the caffeine. The two most common methods are using methylene chloride or ethyl acetate.

1. Use Loose Leaf Tea

One of the best ways to improve the flavor of green tea is to switch from using teabags to loose leaf. Most tea bags contain low quality leaves, which can lead to a harsh, bitter flavor. Using loose leaf tea allows you to experiment with different flavors and brewing techniques to create a delicious green tea that suits your taste buds.

Using loose leaf tea also gives you more control over the size of the tea particles in your cup. This helps you avoid brewing too large of a batch that can scald the delicate leaves and negatively impact the flavor profile. It’s also easier to cold brew your tea, which can give it a smoother and sweeter flavor. Cold brewed tea can be used for green tea iced drinks or as a base for specialty cocktails like a green tea martini.

Another way to improve the flavor of green tea is by adding lemon juice or a touch of sugar. Adding these condiments will bring out the floral notes of the tea and help balance the bitterness. You can also try experimenting with other natural sweeteners such as agave syrup or stevia to find what tastes good to you.

2. Use Filtered Water

When you brew green tea, the kind of water you use makes a huge difference in its flavor. From where the water comes from to the pH level and minerals, it can have a significant impact on how your tea tastes. Even if you enjoy your brew without a sweetener, it’s best to make sure you’re using filtered or spring water so that the flavors are well-rounded.

Using filtered or spring water will also help your tea to stay fresh longer. When you boil your water it releases oxygen that can quickly degrade the flavors of the tea, especially if you leave it on the stove too long. Keeping your tea in the fridge can help prevent this from happening and keep it tasting great.

Another thing you can do is to try adding some lemon to your cup of tea. The citrus notes in the lemon can help to offset some of the bitterness that sometimes comes with green tea.

You can also make your own filtered water by boiling it and then letting it cool down before you use it to brew your tea. You should avoid using distilled water because it can have a flat flavor. If you are making a lot of tea, you may find it helpful to invest in a filtration system to get the cleanest water possible for your brews.

3. Add Flavorings That Are Neutral or Neutral-Sweet

If you suffer from caffeine sensitivity (like racing heartbeat, jitters, restlessness or headaches) but want to enjoy the many nifty green tea health perks, decaf green tea is an excellent option. However, it can have a very different flavor to caffeinated green tea, because the processing methods used for decaf can affect the quality and flavor of the leaves.

The ethyl acetate and CO2 decaffeination processes are the safest to use for green tea, because these natural techniques retain most of the plant’s flavors. The water process, on the other hand, is the least desirable method of producing bagged green tea because it can remove many essential oils and leave a weaker, less pleasant flavor.

Using flavors that are neutral or neutral-sweet can help make your tea more enjoyable without clashing with the earthy flavor of green tea. A splash of plant milk, a drizzle of raw honey or a stevia leaf are great choices because they are pleasantly sweet and won’t make the tea bitter.

It’s also important to avoid over steeping, as this can also make your tea taste bad. When brewing, be sure to follow the steeping instructions on the tea pack. If you have extra tea, store it in a dark tin or cupboard away from light and moisture to prolong its life and flavor.

4. Steep It Longer

When it comes to brewing tea, the longer you let it steep, the stronger it will be. But letting it sit for too long can also turn out to be a bad idea in terms of flavor. According to a study, most of the caffeine is extracted from the leaves within 15 minutes, so waiting around for hours to drink your tea can be counter-productive. Not only that, but the antioxidants found in the leaves can start to break down and lose their healthy properties after they have been infused with water.

This is especially true for delicate teas like green tea. The tannins in these teas are what makes them bitter when brewed for too long, so you want to avoid over-steeping them. However, some people like this bracing astringency of these teas, so if you are looking for that extra boost in energy, try steeping your tea a minute or two longer than usual.

 

Using loose leaf tea instead of teabags will also help to improve the taste of your cup of tea. This is because teabags contain broken pieces of tea called dust and fannings, which have less-nuanced flavors and infuse fewer antioxidants than whole tea leaves. This is why we recommend using only high-quality loose leaf tea when you brew your tea at home.