Strong tea in the morning is a great way to start your day. With some added milk and sugar, you can get a strong tea with a sweet taste. If you are asking yourself, how can I make my tea stronger, here a few ways to make your tea stronger and keep it tasting the way you like.
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How Can I Make My Tea Stronger?
There are two things that define strong tea; taste and effect. A stronger taste can result in a very bitter tea and a strong effect could result in high caffeine content. Some people prefer their tea to be bitter, while some just want more caffeine to keep them alert throughout their day.
Steeping tea longer will make your tea stronger. However, it will also give it a bitter taste. For strong tea that isn’t bitter, use more tea per cup and steep for the regular amount of time. You can also use some of these tips to get a stronger tea:

- Use a mesh infuser. When steeping tea, you need to make sure that you completely infuse your tea leaves in the water. Using a mesh infuser will allow water to make better contact with the tea. The leaves will be able to circulate between the water, thus, enabling the water to get the full flavor and caffeine content.
- Place tea leaves directly in water. By placing the leaves in the water without a strainer or infuser, you are letting the water mingle with the leaves without a barrier. This allows the water to reach every part of the leaf and get all the flavor out of it. This is also good because you are letting the leaves move around the water so they can infuse quicker.
- Use tea bags or crushed tea. Crushed tea takes in water better than whole leaves. This is the same with tea bags. The dust of leaves fill the teabags and leave you with a stronger brew.
- Use fresh tea. Fresh tea is the key to getting a stronger brew. If you’re using tea that’s been sitting in your cabinet for quite a while, it’s probably not going to come out as strong. Keep your tea fresh by storing it in a dry airtight container. And always make sure to replace old tea you’ve had sitting for a long time. Also, don’t buy too much tea at once.
- Steep in Yixing Pots. Sometimes changing what you steep your tea in can affect how strong it is. A Yixing teapot has pores in the clay that absorb tea with constant use. This gives you a stronger tea flavor over time. Although, this won’t make the amount of caffeine higher.
Consider trying these tips and see which one you’re content with. Everyone has their own tea preferences, so you may need to try a few times to figure out which method is right for you.
What is the Strongest Tea?
All teas that come from the Camellia Sinensis plant tend to be the strongest. They all contain tannins and caffeine. Tannins are what give the tea a strong bitter taste.
Black tea when steeped to the recommended time is naturally the strongest tea. It contains the most caffeine when steeped for the same amount of time as the other teas that come from the Camellia Sinensis plant.
Green tea may not be as strong as black tea, although when steeped for as long as black tea, you can get a very bitter taste. It’s best to be careful when trying to make your green tea stronger. A stronger taste in green tea will completely overtake the natural flavor.

How to Get a Stronger Flavor From Herbal Teas?
Herbal teas are very different from traditional tea. You always want to make sure that herbal teas are strong. The reason is that herbal teas are medicinal and to get the full effect from the leaves, it’s best to steep them for longer than recommended or as long as you like.
Making your herbal teas stronger would consist of
- Adding more leaves to less water
- Using fresher leaves
- Steeping for longer times
- Putting a lid over your steeped tea to prevent the essential oils from escaping through the steam
- Using hotter water
- Placing the leaves directly into your teapot or cup
When placing herbal leaves without a strainer or infuser, you don’t need to remove them before drinking. Letting the leaves sit in your cup will allow you to drink more flavor and oils.
Conclusion
Although steeping tea longer is the most common method to make your tea stronger, it’s not the best way unless you’re brewing an herbal tea. Instead, follow the tips in this article to help you achieve a stronger taste and a get a higher amount of caffeine.

Scott is the founder of TeaMinded. He enjoys tasting and discovering teas from across the globe, with green teas and ceremonial matcha from Japan being among his favorites. He’s grateful to be immersed in the tea community, always learning and sharing along the journey.