Strong tea
Tea steeped past comfort — a hot drink brewed stronger than is gentle.
Strong tea in a dream is the dream's image of a hot drink brewed past the point of gentleness. The leaves have been left long enough that the cup carries more bitterness than is comfortable. The dream brings strong tea when something in your life — a conversation, an evening, a piece of feedback — has been prepared too long and is now too concentrated to receive lightly. A strong tea drunk with milk and sugar is the dream telling you the intensity is being met with the right softening. A strong tea drunk plain, with no preparation, is the dream noting that the concentrated bitterness is being taken straight, and the body is paying for the choice.