Latest news with #BlackTea
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Back To Black - Seven In 10 Brits Prefer A Traditional Brew, Says New UK Tea and Infusions Census Study
Regular 'Black' Tea Is Still The Nations #1 This International Tea Day 21st May 2025 LONDON, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --The nation's favourite traditional brew is holding strong in the popularity stakes among Brits – world renowned for being a nation of tea lovers – according to the latest real-world New Tea Census Study[1] of over 1,000 Brits commissioned by the UK Tea and Infusions Association (UKTIA) – "The publishing of our latest New Tea Census Study coincides with International Tea Day (21st of May) this year – a day designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about tea's history, cultural significance, and economic importance," comments Dr Sharon Hall, Chief Executive of the UKTIA. "As a nation with a long history of tea drinking, Brits are ideally placed to raise a cup or two to celebrate. What's more, the Tea Census Study data clearly shows that the majority of us stick to tradition when it comes to our brew choice," notes Dr Sharon Hall further. Dr Sharon Hall continues: "For 71% of us, traditional black tea, with or without milk, holds strong as our main infusion of choice, with one in six (16%) more likely to opt for herbal infusion, and one in eight (13%) predominantly choosing green tea, according to the UKTIA Tea Census real-world data." However, interestingly, the split between our preferred infusion changes with age, according to the UKTIA Tea Census Study. "We found some noteworthy differences between the older and younger generations," says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, "For example, among the 18-24 age group, two thirds (63%) said they mainly drink black tea, while around a fifth (20%) are experimenting with a range of herbal infusions or drinking green tea." She continues, "That's compared with the 65+ age group, among whom over four fifths (86%) mainly drink black tea, but fewer than one in 10 choosing herbal or green tea." Additionally, more women than men were likely to deviate from tradition when it comes to their main brew of choice, with one in five women (19%) opting for herbal infusions compared to just one in eight (12%) men. "Something that unites us all, however," says Dr Sharon Hall, "…is the vast majority across all the age groups (93% overall) prefer the convenience of making their brew with a tea bag rather than preparing a loose-leaf infusion." Perhaps this tendency to prefer tea bags reflects our need for convenience in our ever faster paced modern world, with the UKTIA Tea Census Study data also suggesting that perhaps many of us are prone to making our tea in too much of a rush. "Three quarters (73%) of those surveyed admitted to leaving their tea to brew for less than the 3-4 minutes we at the UKTIA would recommend for the ideal cup of regular black tea," says Dr Sharon Hall. In fact, the ideal tea brewing time of 3-4 minutes suggested by the UKTIA applies to a wide variety of different teas, including Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon, and Earl Grey black teas.[2] When asked how long they left their tea to brew before drinking it, the top answer overall was just 1-2 minutes, while nearly a fifth (18%) said less than a minute, and 16% said 2-3 minutes. Dr Sharon Hall comments, "Only one in 14 (7%) Brits let their tea brew for what we at the UK Tea and Infusions Association would generally regard to be the required time for most types of tea: 3-4 minutes. That sadly leaves the vast majority of Brits missing out on the perfect tasting cuppa. Plus, leaving tea to brew for three to five minutes will ensure the optimal amount of polyphenol compounds are released, such as flavan-3-ols and theaflavins. Polyphenols are natural plant compounds that contribute to tea's flavour and mouthfeel, and they provide nutritional benefits like fruit and vegetables. Dr Sharon Hall continues: "Although younger generations are experimenting with a range of teas more than their parents and grandparents, our new Tea Census Study data clearly shows that the nation's favourite is still a traditional brew of regular black tea." In summary Dr Sharon Hall notes: "However, many of us would benefit from slowing down to make the ideal cuppa – not only to enjoy the best of its flavour profile but also to take time out of our busy days. International Tea Day 2025 is the perfect time to set this new habit in place." How to make a perfect brew Want to know what makes the best brew? UKTIA's Dr Sharon Hall has put together a few simple steps to help ensure you make the best brew this International Tea Day and beyond: Use a good quality teabag or loose-leaf tea and store your tea in a cool, dry place. Avoid storing tea next to strongly flavoured or perfumed foods. Always use freshly drawn water and consider using a water filter. Dr Sharon Hall explains, "In some parts of the country the tap water is hard or soft and this can affect the taste of the tea." Use one teabag or one rounded teaspoon of loose tea for each cup or mug. Smart boil. Using your mug, measure out just the water you need for one or two cuppas and only boil Sharon Hall notes; "This will help save on energy costs and will ensure a good flavour tea which develops best when made with freshly boiled water. The lack of oxygen bubbles in re-boiled water can give the tea a flat taste." Allow the tea to brew for the recommended time before pouring. Always read the instructions on the pack and if you're brewing tea from a bag in a mug, adding milk last is best. Most black teas should be brewed for three to four minutes, while Lapsang Souchong black tea tastes best after four to five minutes. Brew green tea for three to four minutes and oolong tea for three to five minutes, depending on your strength preference. Remove the bag after brewing, before adding the milk. Put your feet up, relax and enjoy. To discover more about tea, see: For more information, SEE: What is the UK Tea & Infusions Association? The United Kingdom Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA) is an independent, non-profit making body that works in support of the industry and is dedicated to promoting tea and herbal infusions and their unique story to consumers, the media, and key stakeholders. UKTIA works on behalf of the world's major tea producing and exporting countries, UK tea packers and allied UK companies who support the tea and herbal infusions supply chains. The UKTIA provides support and information of a technical, scientific, and regulatory nature. UKTIA is the voice of the British tea and herbals industry. The UK TEA & INFUSIONS ASSOCIATION is the trade association for the UK tea industry. [1] Perspectus Global; April 2025;1015 respondents [2] View original content: SOURCE UK Tea and Infusions Association
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
I test appliances for a living — this speedy electric kettle is worth every penny
As a home writer for Yahoo, I'm constantly testing products to see which ones are worth the hype (read: your hard-earned cash). I come across a lot of useful, shiny items in the process, many of which would make a nice permanent addition to my place. Thingamabobs? I'd have plenty ... if only I didn't have such a small kitchen. There is, however, an exclusive group of items that has managed to make its way onto my limited counter-space and stay there. Among them is a gadget that I fell in love with while testing for our story on the best electric kettles. It turns out the Breville The IQ Kettle is just what my kitchen needed. It's smart, it's speedy — and it doubles as an extra (very polished) pitcher in a pinch. In my Breville The IQ Kettle review below, I share more of what makes this electric kettle such a hot commodity and how I'm using it to help streamline my day-to-day. More kitchen upgrades: The best food storage containers | The best iced coffee makers | The best air fryers | The best cookware sets | The best food storage containers Table of contents: Breville The IQ Kettle review My first impression Putting it to the test The final verdict What others are saying The IQ came secured in a white box with feature callouts, along with a base and an instruction manual. The kettle is made mostly of brushed stainless steel, with a round glass panel on the lid and two narrow, vertical glass panels with measurement lines on each side. Its base has the same brushed steel finish and houses the cord, which can be wrapped into a groove underneath so it doesn't wobble on your counter. The base also contains the kettle's controls, including a "Start/Cancel" button, a "Keep Warm" button and presets for different beverages/temperatures including Green Tea (175°F), White Tea (185°F), Oolong (195°F), French Press (200°F) and Boil/Black Tea (212°F). The kettle and base look polished and sleek and fit in well with my brushed steel toaster and other appliances. To evaluate the best electric kettles, I measured room-temperature water and filled each kettle to their max line. Then I heated them up, according to the instructions and various settings. The IQ held 7 cups of water, as promised, and delivered temperatures consistent with each of its varying heat settings, as confirmed by a thermometer. It did this all quickly: In Boil/Black Tea mode, the IQ was able to punch its maximum temperature of 212°F in about four-and-a-half minutes. Once the water reached the peak temperature, the kettle's warming function kicked in automatically and kept temps steady for another 20 minutes. Despite the warmer shutting off after that period, boiled water still hovered in the 160°F range about an hour later, speaking to the kettle's impressive insulation. The IQ kettle proved incredibly easy to use during testing and has been a cinch since. While the kettle gets hot, the ergonomic handle stays cool. It's comfortable to hold and boasts a rubber coating for a non-slip grip. I like how the five tea/coffee presets allow you to select a drink type and temperature without having to put much thought into things, especially helpful for groggy mornings — plus they light up, particularly helpful in low lighting. As an avid coffee drinker, I also appreciate that there's a French Press setting: I just heat up the water and pour it over grinds in my Bodum French Press Coffee Maker, and I have a full pitcher of coffee in under five minutes. Because the body of The IQ is cordless, when it's not on the base it looks and functions just like a regular pitcher. When I'm not tapping it for coffee, I use it to boil water with tea bags, let it cool, then put the pitcher right on my table or in the fridge. I've also relied on The IQ to boil water for noodles, which takes significantly less time than it does on my stovetop. As an added bonus, this shining star of an appliance has a "soft top lid" that gently releases steam, so I don't worry about any splashing. It also features an automatic shutoff function and boil-dry protection, meaning that, unlike with a stovetop, I don't need to worry about leaving the heat on and/or boiling the kettle without enough water in it. What others are saying It's not just me! Breville's The IQ Kettle has racked up more than 1,500 perfect ratings from Amazon customers who hail its performance and versatility: "Great kettle!" exclaimed one five-star fan. "Love this electric kettle and use it every day. I like that there are different settings for temperature for tea and coffee. Beeping is minimal and useful." "Very nice looking and heats water perfectly!" gushed another. "This unit is perfect for us as it's easy to handle, looks great and does its job as intended! We looked at other top-rated units, but some had the control in the handle which made it larger to grasp. This unit has a manageable handle and is lighter as the controls are in the base." "Intuitive, beautifully designed and fast," wrote a third. "Got this recently after my old kettle broke. For the price, this is a great kettle. It looks brilliant, but it's got wide functionality and works very quickly." If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
