tea4health facts and figures

19th January 2005

The British have been drinking tea for nearly 400 years - and other facts...

Background

- 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 36 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

Market Figures

- The UK imports around 160 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

Consumption patterns

- Average consumption is circa 3 cups per day (10 years old and over)

- 70% of population (over 10yrs) drank tea yesterday

- 96% of tea is consumed in tea bags

- 90% of tea is consumed at home, 10% out of home

- 93% of tea consumed is blend – 7% speciality tea. Earl Grey 50% of 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

Making the perfect cup of tea

- Always boil fresh water. Re-boiling the water takes the oxygen out and can give a slightly metallic taste.

- Milk in second.

- Brew for 1 to 2 minutes or to taste.

Making the perfect pot of tea

- Always boil fresh water. Re-boiling the water takes the oxygen out and can give a slightly metallic taste.

- Milk in first – this avoids scalding the fats in the milk

- Brew for 3 to 5 minutes or to taste.

Health Facts

- Approximately 40% of the nation’s fluid intake today will be tea

- Tea without milk has no calories. Using semi-skimmed milk adds around 13 calories per cup, but you also benefit from valuable minerals and calcium.

- Tea with milk provides 16% of daily calcium requirement in 4 cups. Tea contains some zinc and folic acid.

- Tea with milk contains Vitamin B6, Riboflavin B2 and Thiamin B1

- Tea is a rich source of minerals manganese, essential for bone growth and body development, and potassium, vital for maintaining body fluid levels

- The average cup of tea contains less than half the level of caffeine than coffee. One cup contains only 50mg per 190ml cup

- Tea is a natural source of fluoride and delivers 45% of your daily requirement if you take 3/4 cups per day

- Only 11% of UK water supply has fluoride added

- Green and black teas are from the same plant, Camelia sinensis, and contain similar amounts of antioxidants and caffeine

-ends-

For further information on tea and health contact:

tea4health Campaign

info@tea4health.com

or visit http://www.tea4health.com/