Tea Facts

Here are some interesting tea facts for you to enjoy over a cuppa:

• The British have been drinking tea for nearly 400 years
• Tea breaks are traditions that have been with us for approximately 200 years. Initially when workers commenced their day at around 5 or 6am, employers allowed a break in the morning when food and tea were served. Some employers repeated the break in the afternoon as well
• Tea costs approximately 3p per cup to make. Coffee costs 6.5p
• Tea outsells coffee by 2 to 1
• There are 26 tea-growing nations. The principal ones are India, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Indonesia
• Over 50% of our tea comes from East Africa – Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe
• The UK imports and consumes 140 thousand tonnes of tea per year
• The UK drinks 165 million cups per day – 62 billion cups per year
• There are estimated to be about 1,500 different varieties of tea
• In a recent study, 80% of staff claim they find out more about what’s going on at work over a cup of tea than in any other way
• The UK tea market is worth circa £700 million annually
• Average consumption is circa 3 cups per day (10 years old and over)
• 70% of the population drank tea yesterday
• 95% of tea is consumed in tea bags
• 86% of tea is consumed at home, 14% out of home
• 93% of tea consumed is a blend – the other 7% are speciality teas. Earl Grey makes up 50% of the speciality market
• Over 25% of milk consumed in UK is taken with tea
• 98% of people take milk with tea
• 45% of people take sugar with their tea

If you have any more questions about tea, please call us on 01403 784612.