Brits Love Their Tea
Britain remains a nation of tea-lovers, and 53% rely on a traditional cup of tea, at around 8am on average, to help kick start their working day, while just over a third choose coffee.
New research shows tea’s popularity in the U.K. cuts across all generations, and it is not just a favorite hot beverage enjoyed by the older generations.
A third of 18-24 year old Britons said tea helps them to unwind, and nearly half said they find drinking tea comforting.
The tea study conducted by Travelodge, surveyed 5,000 British adults to help discover the nation’s hot beverage drinking habits.
More than 78 million mugs of tea is consumed everyday across the country.
Some 46% of tea drinkers reported their tea tastes better when drunk from a mug as it stays warmer for longer and you also get a good measure.
The study also revealed that the beloved teapot could soon become obsolete, as just 16% of Britons use a teapot daily to make their favorite hot beverage.
Eight out of 10 Britons reported they do not have the time or patience to make tea in a teapot.
A ‘builders brew’ is the nation’s preferred way to drink tea; however, half of British tea drinkers take their tea without sugar.
Just 15% of adults enjoy a milky tea, yet a third of Britons still favor the old partnership of dunking a biscuit into their tea, with one in 10 Britons preferring to dunk a chocolate bar.
When it comes to choosing the perfect biscuit to accompany a mug of tea, tastes remain traditional with the digestive (plain and chocolate covered) as the nation’s top choice.
The study also revealed after a long day, 63% of Britons turn to a good cuppa to help them unwind.
Some 43% of adults stated they find a good brew comforting and it feels like a good hug in a mug.
It also emerged the traditional tea-break is still alive and well across British companies, with the most popular times being 10am and 3pm.
Some 30% of British workers hate having to do the tea run at their place of work, and one in 10 will deliberately make a poor cup of tea so that they do not have to do it again.
A fifth of adults admitted they carry their favorite brand of teabags with them when away from home.
Simon Beattie, head of Food and Beverage for Travelodge, said, “On average, over 12 million cups of tea are drunk in our rooms and Bar Cafes in a year.
“In the last year, we have seen a significant increase in requests for additional teabags from our customers.
“We know the first thing customers do when they check into their room is make a cup of tea.
"To address this growing demand for a good cuppa, we have extended the range of teas we offer in our Bar Cafés so that we can accommodate all tastes.
“In addition, we only serve tea in mugs across all of our hotels.”
Shayne House, co-founder and director of the Tea Appreciation Society, said, “I am not surprised at the popularity of tea, especially among the younger generation.
“Those of us that are familiar with the liquid jade are well aware that there is a tea renaissance the world over.
“Hip and fashionable, and underlined by a move towards a healthier lifestyle, tea has replaced coffee as the drink of choice for young urbanites everywhere.
“Tea has and always will be an occasion for friendship for each new generation – it offers us an opportunity for shared moments of intimacy.
"It enables us to reflect, to be inspired and to create. Tea is a way of life.”
However, there apparently is room for improvement, and just one in 10 people actually brews their tea for the recommend three minutes.
Some 40% of adults just dip the teabag into hot water for less than a minute.
From the June 20, 2012, Prepared Foods Daily News
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