Tea is comforting, fragrant, and full of tradition—but let’s be honest, not every cup deserves a second sip.
Some teas are just awkward blends, while others feel like science experiments gone wrong. Whether it’s a weird aftertaste or an aroma that clears the room, these 15 brews are better left untouched.
Here’s a list of teas that totally miss the mark, from mildly disappointing to downright undrinkable.
1. Licorice Root Tea
Licorice root tea tastes overwhelmingly sweet in a way that feels unnatural and clings to your throat long after the sip. The flavor lingers like syrup-coated bark, with a strange medicinal finish that’s hard to shake.
For those who dislike black licorice, it’s a guaranteed no-go. Even fans admit it’s a polarizing tea that few crave twice.
2. Lapsang Souchong
This Chinese black tea is smoke-dried over pinewood, leaving behind a bold, ashy aroma that dominates every corner of the cup. It smells like a campfire and drinks like liquid bacon fat.
Some adventurous sippers enjoy its intensity, but most find the flavor jarring. It’s more theatrical than soothing.
3. Pu-erh Tea (Over-Fermented)
When pu-erh is over-fermented, it leans into musty, compost-like territory with deep earthy funk and no freshness left. The brew turns murky and thick, like forest floor steeped in rainwater.
A good pu-erh is rich and layered, but this version is closer to mulch in a mug. A flavor for the truly fearless.
4. Olive Leaf Tea
Olive leaf tea offers a dry, grassy flavor with metallic undertones and none of olive oil’s charm. The taste sits flat on the tongue, offering little payoff.
It’s promoted for health, not joy, and feels more like swallowing a health supplement than sipping tea. The experience rarely sparks delight.
5. Dandelion Root Tea
This earthy herbal brew carries bitter, rooty notes that recall wet soil and burnt toast. It’s a tough flavor to love.
Used traditionally for detoxing, it’s often gulped, not enjoyed. Sipping feels like punishment in wellness form.
6. Rooibos Vanilla Chai (Artificially Flavored)
The warm, nutty notes of rooibos get drowned under a wave of fake vanilla and too-strong spice blends. The flavor lacks harmony and feels clunky.
What could be cozy turns cloying. The artificial taste clings to the tongue, making every sip less inviting.
7. Chamomile-Ginger-Cinnamon Mix
Each ingredient fights for attention—floral, spicy, and woody all collide without a smooth base to tie them together. The result is chaotic and confused.
Instead of relaxing, it overwhelms. A blend made for comfort ends up tasting like a messy spice rack.
8. Barley Tea
Roasted barley brews into a thin, grainy drink that tastes like cereal water with a bitter edge. There’s no depth, only dryness.
Popular in some regions for nostalgia or refreshment, it leaves many wondering if something went wrong in the steeping. Few reach for a refill.
9. Instant Matcha Latte Mix
Powdered milk, low-grade matcha, and lots of sugar create a chalky, overly sweet brew with none of matcha’s charm. It lacks the freshness that defines true matcha.
More candy than tea, it disappoints with every sip. A pale imitation of what should be bold and grassy.
10. Green Tea With Stevia
Stevia’s sharp sweetness clashes with the delicate bitterness of green tea, creating an off-balance, metallic taste. The result is oddly artificial.
Instead of refreshing, it confuses the palate. A sip starts okay, but finishes strange and saccharine.
11. Onion Peel Tea
Yes, it’s a thing—and it tastes exactly how it sounds: slightly sweet, slightly sulfuric, and utterly unsettling. The broth-like taste doesn’t belong in a teacup.
Tradition or not, this brew tests even the most curious tea drinkers. It’s hard to sip without questioning your life choices.
12. Garlic Tea
Steeped garlic water with lemon and honey is more potion than tea. The flavor is pungent, sharp, and medicinal.
While some drink it to fight colds, the smell alone clears a room. A tea that should stay in the remedy category.
13. Mushroom Herbal Blend
Blending mushrooms into tea creates a savory, earthy drink that lands somewhere between broth and bark. The flavor is meaty and muddy.
It may have health perks, but enjoyment is rarely one of them. A strange, chewy-tasting steep that doesn’t invite seconds.
14. Durian Fruit Tea
Durian’s infamous smell—like onion custard—carries straight into the cup. The taste is sweet, sour, and deeply funky.
If you like durian, maybe you’ll love it. Most, however, can’t get past the first whiff.
15. Sardine-Infused Black Tea
Infused with fish essence, this tea delivers a briny, oily brew with strong umami and unmistakable sea flavor. It tastes like steeped anchovies.
It may be a novelty, but no one’s sipping it for pleasure. A tea that dares—then dares you to finish it.