As winter sets in, a new survey from the UK Tea & Infusions Association reveals that Brits are turning to tea for warmth, comfort, focus, and a much-needed break.

According to the latest real-world research survey¹ carried out on behalf of the UK Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA),² British adults said they drink tea for comfort (43%) and to keep warm (38%), while over a third (36%) said they drink tea as a ‘pick me up’. We also consume an impressive amount of tea, as almost all of us (98%) drink at least one cup a day.

“For many, the first time we fire up the boiler is the official end of summer, and that’s particularly hard for those of us who love the long days of summer,” says Dr Sharon Hall, Chief Executive of the UK Tea and Infusions Association.

Dr Sharon Hall continues, “But there’s so much to be celebrated as we enjoy the autumn months: the season of slowing down, when the bright copper tones of autumn and foggy, crisp mornings take centre stage, and there’s even more reason to enjoy a cup of warming tea.”

Autumn Glory
We get the privilege of witnessing Mother Nature retreating in all her colourful autumn glory to ready herself for a long winter rest. If we choose to pay attention, she leads us by example to reduce the pace of life and take good care of ourselves.

The UKTIA survey gives us some encouraging news about Brits’ tea habits. Nearly two-thirds (63%) say they drink tea to calm down, while around the same proportion (62%) have a cup of tea to give themselves some thinking time.

Taking a moment to ourselves with a cup of tea at the change of the seasons allows us to take stock of where we’re at, what we need, and what we want. Indeed, when asked what they like to talk about while enjoying a brew, around a third of Brits (32%) said they discussed their future plans.

Don’t Bolt the Brew
But many Brits are still in too much of a rush, which stands to reason as modern life can be incredibly fast-paced. “Some people even rush their tea brewing,” says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, “Over a quarter of us only leave the bag in the cup of black tea for 1-2 minutes, which simply isn’t long enough to allow the tea to be drunk at its delicious, copper-coloured best.”

Almost a fifth (18%) said they only left the bag in for less than a minute, while some (7%) admitted to only dunking the bag for a few seconds, barely giving the water a chance to change colour.

Dr Sharon Hall adds, “Only one out of every 14 (7%) Brits brews their tea for the 3-4 minutes recommended for the optimal cuppa across a range of different teas, including the highly popular British staple – black tea.”

Take Time for Tea
Tea breaks are where we get to see the wood for the trees. This is where the breakthroughs happen. It gives us space to direct our efforts so that we might reduce any waste of time and energy.

“Somewhat encouragingly, over a third (37%) said they reached for a cup of tea as a way to take a break, but that still leaves nearly two-thirds who are missing out on this golden opportunity,” says Dr Sharon Hall.

Dr Hall continues, “Taking a break to watch the changing leaves and the squirrels gathering their winter food stores from the warmth and comfort of your home is a wonderful part of sliding slowly into autumn,” says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, “Nearly three-quarters (74%) of Brits drink their regular brew of black tea at home, according to the UKTIA real-world research.”

However, over two-fifths (44%) like to have a brew in hand to take out with them.

As Dr Sharon Hall noted, “A flask of your favourite cup of tea can be a welcome addition to an autumn forest walk, where you can witness the leaves turning from green to gold and copper.”

With nature inspiring us to make any necessary changes, it’s noteworthy that almost a quarter (23%) of UKTIA survey respondents said that drinking tea helped them focus, while around a fifth said it gave them motivation (20%) and made them feel energised (18%).

Tea – the Nation’s Favourite
Regular black tea is the clear favourite hot drink of choice among Brits, according to the UKTIA survey. When faced with the prospect of only drinking one hot drink and giving up all the rest, nearly double the number of survey respondents said they’d choose black tea (40%) compared with those who would choose coffee (22%). One in eight (13%) said they’d choose green tea, with one in 11 (9%) opting for a herbal infusion.

Dr Sharon Hall concludes, “Whether your preference is for a regular cup of black tea, green tea, matcha, oolong, peppermint, chamomile or one of the many other infusions available, stopping for a tea break is the perfect chance to take inspiration from Mother Nature as she makes her dramatic colour changes this autumn.”

References:

¹ Perspectus Global. Online survey of 1000 consumers, March 2024.

² UK Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA).