If you ask me it's the water. I notice quite a difference in the taste of my tea depending on where I am though it's made exactly the same way using my preferred brand. In the South of England for e.g. I never had a decent cup because of the hard water, whereas the West of Scotland where our water is soft is excellent. My hubby though never uses teabags only loose because he says it's far superior...they use the scrapings off the floor for teabags he claims. :)