Brits Ultimate “Picky Tea” Ingredients Revealed, and They’re Mostly Beige

A sausage roll and a slice of quiche, perhaps a pickled onion or a cherry tomato, and don’t forget a handful of crisps. Below, Brits’ ultimate “picky tea” ingredients are revealed.

It’s mostly beige, it’s lazy, and it’s wonderfully British – hooray for the “picky tea”, with 89 per cent of Brits admitting it is their go-to meal in summer. In fact, Brits tuck into an average of three picky teas a week during the warmer months, with sausage rolls (52 percent), a slice of mature cheddar (52 percent) and pork pies (43 percent) emerging as picky plate essentials.

Gen Z females recently rebranded “picky tea” on TikTok, posting pics of their picky plates alongside the hashtag #girldinner. Brits around the country refer to it as “picky bits” or “bits and bobs.”

But whatever you call it, more than four in ten (43 per cent) say that it’s not a picky tea without potato salad (43 per cent) or coleslaw (43 per cent), while 42 per cent love to include a handful of juicy cherry tomatoes (42 per cent).

According to research from cider makers, Orchard Pig, salad leaves (33 per cent), pickled onions, and gherkins (32 per cent) also made the cut, as did a slice of quiche Lorraine (30 per cent).

Scotch eggs have a place on a picky plate (42 per cent), as do ready-salted crisps (42 per cent) and coronation chicken (21 per cent), alongside sourdough bread (23 per cent), smoked salmon (23 per cent), olives (23 per cent) and mozzarella (23 per cent).

Half (48 per cent) say they love delving into their fridge and cupboards to see what they can rustle up, while 80 per cent spend the day imagining what will go on their picky plate that evening.

In fact, 86 per cent of those surveyed agreed it doesn’t get more quintessentially British than a picky tea.

‘Cardiffers’ (96 per cent), ‘Bristolians’ (94 per cent), and ‘Mancunians’ (93 per cent) are the nation’s biggest picky tea fans.

Modern Brits look around the world to fill their plates with pretzels (25 per cent), salsa (19 per cent), couscous (16 per cent), and falafel (14 per cent), all of which are popular with the younger generation.

When it comes to what to wash it down with, a glass of wine or a refreshing cider was among the top choices.

Eleanor Quigley, Brand Manager at Orchard Pig, commented, “It’s clear to see that ‘picky tea fever’ is sweeping the nation, with everything from smoked salmon to sourdough emerging as favourites. Crafted with more apples and less fizz, our choice of ciders matches everything, from sausage rolls to grapes and cheese.”

Four in ten (45 percent) think that a picky tea is a perfect tonic when it is too hot and muggy to turn on the oven, while 40 percent simply say it is a more fun way to eat.

The perfect solution when you can’t think what to make (40 per cent), adopting a grazing diet in the heat (34 per cent), and less cleaning up (31 per cent) are also reasons for opting for a picky plate supper.

Those over 60 are most likely to lay everything out nicely on the table so everyone can help themselves. (67 percent).

The 30 items for a Quintessential British Picky Tea:

Sausage rolls – 52%
Mature cheddar – 52%
Slices of ham – 48%
A pork pie – 43%
Potato salad – 43%
Coleslaw – 43%
A few cherry tomatoes – 42%
A Scotch egg – 42%
A handful of ready-salted crisps – 42%
A few crackers – 40%
A couple of grapes – 36%
Some salad leaves – 33%
Some pickled onions – 32%
A pickled gherkin or two – 32%
A slice of quiche Lorraine – 30%
Sour cream and chive dip – 27%
Houmous – 25%
Salami slices– 24%
Pickled beetroots – 23%
Sourdough bread – 23%
Smoked salmon – 23%
Olives – 23%
Mozzarella – 23%
Onion bhajis – 23%
Chorizo slices – 22%
Coronation chicken – 21%
A glass of white wine – 18%
A wedge of blue cheese – 18%
A cold cider – 18%
Pretzels – 17%