It is your best friend throughout the winter and the perfect companion any other season of the year. But a report recently published by the UK Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA), highlights other interesting findings. According to the study three quarters of us drink black tea, with or without milk, but only one in 100 people drink a classic builder’s brew of strong, dark sugary tea. Interestingly, seven times that number (7%) add CREAM to their tea, only marginally fewer than the percentage who add a plant-based milk (10%). And more: less than one in four people (22%) adds milk or sugar before adding the teabag and hot water – following the golden rule of seasoned tea lovers that strongly believe you should never add milk to your tea as the last item.
The UK imports around 100,000 metric tons of tea every year and although the nation consumes millions of cups of tea every day, according to the UKTIA’s Tea Census Report the favourite brew remains a humble cuppa – black tea – derived from the Camellia sinensis plant.
“If there’s something the Brits do well, it’s popping on the kettle and brewing a good cup of tea. It’s a tradition that dates back to the 16th century when Charles II married the Portuguese princess and tea lover Catherine of Braganza.” – says Sharon Hall, head of the UK Tea and Infusions Association, remind us that the origin of the popular beverage is not always known.
“Most people think that black tea comes from China (39%) or India (37%) but most of the tea drunk in the UK actually comes from Kenya, although it is often blended with other teas such as Assam tea from India, Ceylon teas from Sri Lanka and black teas from Rwanda and other east African nations.
When it comes to infusions, peppermint and chamomile are the most popular ones with 24% and 21% of respondents drinking them at least twice a week.
Although tea can be a real thirst quencher as well as a means of socialising, our love of tea runs far deeper as many respondents turn to tea when they’re emotional and cold according to the Tea Census Report.
“Tea is a hug in a mug, a loyal friend, and a calming aid. A third of Brits (32%) see their tea break as a time to connect with other people, but 38% catch up on social media, 16% enjoy doing a puzzle on their tea-break and 5% use the time to just sit and think.” – adds Hall. “Around a third (29%) of Brits turn to chamomile when they want to de-stress, and a fruit infusions is a popular choice when we’re feeling dreamy (16%).”
Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) and detailed in the Tea Census Report told us a cup of tea gets them going in the morning and one in five (18%) say a brew helps them face a difficult conversation or email. More than half of those polled (56%) also confirmed that their feelings are a factor while making their choice of tea or infusion, with black tea coming up on top to sip on a variety of occasions, from feeling hungry or nostalgic, to when you feel motivated or happy.