If you have ever ordered a grande tea at Starbucks, you have probably wondered why they use two tea bags?
You can use two tea bags in one cup of tea. The size of the cup and the number of tea bags will affect the caffeine content, the strength of the tea, and the speed of the brewing.
In the following sections we will explore the ins and outs of making tea with two or more tea bags.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using Two Tea Bags?
There are a number of reasons why someone might use two or more tea bags. Typically, experts recommend one tea bag for every eight ounces of water.
You might want to use two tea bags, if:
You want your tea to steep quicker
If you are in a hurry, you can use extra tea bags to make the tea steep quicker.
You want your tea to be extra strong
If you like extra strong tea, you can use extra tea bags to reach your desired strength of flavor. More tea bags will make this process faster, so you do not need to wait as long and your tea will not cool down too much.
You are making more than eight ounces of tea
If you are making tea with more than eight ounces of water, you may want more tea bags. If you only use one tea bag with twelve ounces of water the tea will take longer to steep to full strength.
You want tea that has extra caffeine
The more tea leaves in the teacup, the more caffeine you will get.
The reasons why you might not want to use two tea bags are:
The tea will reach the full steep too soon
If you are making one cup that is about eight ounces and you use more than one tea bag, the tea will reach the optimal strength quicker. The recommended steeping time on the instructions will be too long if more than one tea bag is used.
The tea may get too strong
Since the tea steeps so quickly, you may not get the tea bags out in time to keep the tea from getting too strong for your preference.
The tea may be too caffeinated
The other thing that happens when you add extra tea bags is that there will be more caffeine. This only applies to caffeinated tea. The more tea in the cup, the more caffeine.
How Many Tea Bags Should You Use?
A good rule for tea is to use one tea bag for every eight ounces of tea. Here are the numbers for some of the most popular brewing methods.
| Brewing Method | Amount of Water | Number of Tea Bags |
| Hot water and Tea | 1 cup (8 ounces) | 1 tea bag |
| Hot water and Tea | 2 cups (16 ounces) | 2 tea bags |
| Hot water and Tea in a teapot | 4 cups (32 ounces) | 4 tea bags |
| Hot water and Tea in a teapot | 6 cups (48 ounces) | 6 tea bags |
| Hot water and Tea in a teapot | 8 cups (64 ounces) | 8 tea bags |
| Cold Brew Tea | 4 cups (32 ounces) | 4-6 tea bags |
| Cold Brew Tea | 6 cups (48 ounces) | 6-9 tea bags |
| Cold Brew Tea | 8 cups (64 ounces) | 8-12 tea bags |
| Sun Tea | 4 cups (32 ounces) | 2-6 tea bags |
| Sun Tea | 6 cups (48 ounces) | 3-9 tea bags |
| Sun Tea | 8 cups (64 ounces) | 4-12 tea bags |
| Tea Concentrate | 1 cup (8 ounces) | 2-3 tea bags |
| Tea Concentrate | 2 cups (16 ounces) | 4-6 tea bags |
| Tea Concentrate | 4 cups (32 ounces) | 8-12 tea bags |
| Tea Concentrate | 6 cups (48 ounces) | 12-18 tea bags |
| Tea Concentrate | 8 cups (64 ounces) | 16-24 tea bags |
A Note About Make Tea Concentrate:
You can make tea concentrate using the cold brew or sun brew method. The key is to steep the tea for an hour or more. You don’t want to use the hot water method because the tea can become bitter.
You want to use extra tea bags for tea concentrate. The recommended amount is two to three times the regular tea bag count.
Can You Mix Tea Bags?
You can mix tea bags. It is best to follow these easy steps.
- Start with only two tea bags (different flavors) and 16 ounces of water. This way if you do not like it, you have not wasted a lot of tea.
- If you like the two flavors together, you can make larger amounts. If you do not like the flavors, try a different combo of two.
- Repeat steps 1 and 2 as often as necessary to figure out what teas you like together and which ones you do not like together.
Here are some popular tea combinations.
- Green Tea + Mint Tea
- White Tea + Fruity Herbal Tea
- Black Tea + Ginger Tea
- Lavender Tea + Lemon Tea
- Chamomile Tea + Lavender Tea
- Lemon Tea + Mint Tea
- Ginger Tea + Orange Tea
- Lemon Tea + Ginger Tea
- Lemon Tea + Ginger Tea + Green Tea
- Peach Tea + Ginger Tea
Different types of mint tea can be mixed together. You can also mix mint with chamomile tea or lemon tea.
Ginger tea mixes well with black tea, green tea, lemon tea, citrus teas, and many fruity teas.
Does The Number Of Tea Bags Affect The Caffeine Content?
The number of tea bags does affect the caffeine content. The amount of water also affects the caffeine content. The length of the steeping will also affect caffeine. The numbers below are averages. Some teas will have more and some will have less.
| Tea Type | Caffeine in 1 tea bag in 8 ounces of water | Caffeine in 2 tea bags in 8 ounces of water | Caffeine with extra long steep |
| Mate (Yerba Mate) | 70-80 mg | Up to 160 mg | 70-160 mg |
| Black Tea | 50 mg | Up to 100 mg | 50-100 mg |
| Oolong Tea | 30-50 mg | Up to 100 mg | 30-100 mg |
| Pu-erh Tea | 30 mg | Up to 60 mg | 30-60 mg |
| Green Tea | 20-30 mg | Up to 60 mg | 20-60 mg |
| White Tea | 10-20 mg | Up to 40 mg | 10-40 mg |
| Chai Tea* | 10-50 mg | Up to 100 mg | 10-100 mg |
| Purple Tea | 10 mg | Up to 20 mg | 10-20 mg |
| Yellow Tea | 5-10 mg | Up to 20 mg | 5-20 mg |
| Decaf tea | 2-4mg | Up to 10 mg | 2-10 mg |
| Herbal Tea | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Rooibos Tea (Red Bush Tea) | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg |
* Chai tea has a huge range since it can be made out of multiple types of tea. It can even be herbal and have no caffeine.
Conclusion
Whether you decide to use two tea bags is a personal choice. Now that you have all the facts it is time for you to make the best decision for you.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.