Strong tea brewed for the VIP (9)

I believe the answer is:

potentate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'the vip' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'strong tea brewed' is the wordplay.
'strong' becomes 'potent' (similar in meaning).
'brewed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tea' anagrammed gives 'ate'.
'potent'+'ate'='POTENTATE'

'for' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for potentate that I've seen before include "Mogul" , "authority" , "Powerful autocratic ruler" , "A monarch or ruler" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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