Every now and then you need a strong tea. Some people are between coffee and tea. Others are wanting the experience of the strongest tea. Strong doesn’t always mean a higher caffeine level. Strong just means strong. Knock your socks off strong. What are the world’s strongest teas? Is there a tea that is that strong? If there was, would you want to try it? Maybe you already have?
What are the world’s strongest teas?
One tea comes to mind when we talk about strong tea. That tea is
Black teas are the most processed of all the teas. Fermented, oxidized, fried, cooked, baked, and more. Not all black teas are strong. There are some black teas that are mellow and smooth. Today we are not talking about those teas. Today we are going to take a peek into the world of deep, dark, rich, strong black teas.
The oxidation of
Assam – Assam teas generally come from India. Still from the same tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, it is a different variety called: Assamica varietal. This variety creates a stronger tea. If the tea leaves are processed and broken it will also allow the tea to brew much stronger and darker. If you read my article on English Breakfast teas you will see one of the main teas used to create an English Breakfast tea is Assam.
A brisk summer Assam tea with sweet and sour flavors, woody notes, and a hint of astringency.
Chai – Another tea that is from India is Chai. Chai teas can be dark and strong. Once you take your chai tea and mix it with milk (traditional) it will mellow out the taste. Chai teas can be made with CTC leaves. CTC leaves allow the tea to brew much stronger. Chai teas also incorporated several spices with their tea. Spices like: Cardamon, clover, cinnamon, rose, pepper, ginger, and others.
A chai tea blend above all others. Tali's Masala Chai is a fusion of organic Assam tea anchored in cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and other spices for a balanced aromatic black tea blend.
Earl Grey Teas – How did that get on this list? Earl great is a strong tea. It’s brewed liquor. It is very dark and strong. The intensity of the bergamot varies. The strength of the tea is always strong and powerful.
Lapsang Souchong – If you ever get a chance to try some smoked lapsang souchong, please do. It is not my favorite tea, at all. There are people that absolutely desire it. The tea is intense, strong, and Smokey. To me, it tastes like a campfire. No joke! The Smokey flavor comes from the tea being actually smoked over wood. This gives it it’s strong and unique scent and taste.
Organic Lapsang Souchong black tea, from the Wuyi region of the Fujian province of China, is the single malt scotch and fine cigar lovers tea of California Tea House. It has an amazing smoky flavor and aroma due to its drying process. This is the highest grade Lapsang in the world
Pu’erh – Pu’erh teas are fermented and very good for your microbiome. They are also in most cases very strong. Raw Pu’erh is very strong, in fact, I steep it for a few seconds no more. Pu’erh tea keeps getting better with age. The taste varies but Pu’erh is very earthy. You can also brew a Pu’erh thick and dark like an espresso.
The Nan Jian Factory mini brick is 100g of some great ripened Pu-erh. The leaf base comes from Wu Liang Mountain and Lincang growing regions. Chinese Certified Organic leaf material.
Black Tea Information
Discovered in China about 4000 or more years ago and as the story goes…
The tale goes that while a passing army entered the Fujian province. They decided to take shelter at a nearby tea factory. This held up production at the tea factory. The tea leaves were left out in the sun. This caused them to oxidize for a longer period of time and resulted in darker leaves. Trying to speed up the drying time, they decided to smoke the leaves over pine wood. This created Lapsang Souchong, which became one of the very first black teas.
Back then, tea was drunk as a concoction to keep one warm and fortified with vital nutrients.
The most popular tea consumed with over 90 percent of all tea sold in the West is
black tea because of oxidation.
India’s
The flavor of
The winner is
Well, it’s my blog and I get to pick the winner. The strongest tea to me would be…. *drum roll* ….
Pu’erh is also known as “the dark tea”
Pu’erh has a variety of taste notes: leather, cherries, floral, mellow, earthy, woody (bark), and many more. These tastes depend on how the tea is aged and how long it’s allowed to steep in your cup.
The reason I give this award is because of the fact that Pu’erh is already a strong tea. But, you can keep it longer and it keeps getting better and better. No other tea ages that well. Plus the fact Pu’erh is fermented. Fermentation is a strong tea bonus.
Oh, and not mentioned prior is the way Pu’erh comes, it’s formed into a cake or brick. That is wrapped in a decorated paper unique to the company and the tea. The feeling when you hold your tea cake is of pride. There is also a special tool you can purchase to use to break the tea away from the cake. As you break away the tea from beginning to end, the tea will change.
Pu’erh tea is a live tea, always in motion and forever changing.
There are also a few varieties of Pu’erh.
Young Raw – Is as the name sounds, the tea is young and less processed. It will have a green tea look about it. This tea will be under 2 or 3 years old, if not new. This, of course, is not our strongest of the black teas and will give a grassy, fresh, light flavor.
Aged Raw – has nature notes like earthy, bark, woods. The first taste of camphor from the processing will be in this aged raw. As with all Pu’erh teas, age will change the flavor.
Ripe – and here she is, the deep dark strong ripe pu’erh. This tea will taste “ripe” fermented, cured. It will only get better and stronger in time. Who has time to waste with your first Ripe pu’erh cake? They never last too long at our home or office.
Benefits of Strong Black Tea
There are so many benefits that come from a cup of tea. The tea leaf to me is one of the most healing meditative and medicinal leaves. You get to enjoy a cup of tea and the health benefits it includes. You can also add herbs and spices to up your game and target specific conditions.
Heart – Flavones in the tea help improve your heart. Studies have shown that drinking 3 cups of tea a day can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Lowers Ovarian Cancer Risk – Catechins and theaflavins in
Diabetes – Lower the risk of Type 2 diabetes by drinking tea. The catechins and theaflavins help cellular function and help you become insulin sensitive.
Immunity – Antioxidant-rich tea helps restore normal cell and body functions.
Bone health – Phytochemicals found in tea can help lower the onset of arthritis.
Brain health – High concentration of antioxidants in
Digestion –
Cholesterol – Theaflavins in
Stress – The scent alone can relax you.
Oral Health –
Mental State of Mind – The caffeine in
Skin – Tea has a detoxifying effect on the body and antioxidants help repair the skin from damage.
Blood Pressure – This study of people who drank
Strong tea concerns
As with anything, there are always concerns. The concerns of tea are never really serious with moderate consumption. It’s when we decide to drink 10-15 cups of tea a day for many days/ weeks that we could get into some concerns. One of the biggest concerns not mentioned below is allergies. Being careful that tea is just not an allergen to your body. I never hear much of tea allergies
Anxiety – Caffeine in
Urination – Tea can make you pee
Seizures – High caffeine content can bring on seizures. It can also stop seizure medicine from working.
Glaucoma – Caffeinated
Diarrhea – the caffeine in
Constipation – The tannins in
Conclusion
It is a matter of opinion and that is why I asked my friends what they felt was the strongest tea. Here are those results. My friends felt that Assam was a stronger tea because you add milk to dilute it. A CTC Ceylon or Kenyan. Another friend suggested the lapsang because it’s bold and hits you “in the face”. But no one suggested the Pu’erh. I’m surprised. Are you?
2 thoughts on “What Are The World’s Strongest Teas?”
I’m trying one strong black tea after another until I find one I really like. Supermarket teas are qyite limited, and not very strong.
Hello Elsie!!!
That’s how we do it, keep trying till we find what we like, there is so much out there. I am not a fan of bagged tea however, I do use it at work because it’s easier for me than trying to steep tea in a crowded office situation. At home, it’s strictly loose leaf.
Any of the breakfast teas are generally strong. Have you thought about a Pu’erh? Those can be wicked strong with a more aged, sometimes whiskey, earthy flavor.
Let me know where you are located and I will try to hook you up with some fantastic teas!
Have the best day possible!!!
Lisa B.