Latest news with #TeaCensus
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Record
Common coffee mistake that's costing you £40 a year - and it's not trips to Starbucks
If you're a big fan of a cuppa then you might want to rethink your habits as one simple change could save you nearly £40 a year Many of us enjoy a cuppa several times a day as a great way to relax. However, there's a way to trim the cost of your brew - and it doesn't involve switching brands or drinking less. Justin Nielsen, an energy consultant at Wolf River Electric, an electrical and solar installations firm, suggests that overfilling your kettle, a habit many of us are guilty of, is unnecessarily inflating your energy bill. But a simple adjustment in how much water you boil could save you nearly £40 every year. Making a cup of tea or coffee is a daily ritual for millions of Brits. The Tea Census estimates that around 10 million cups of the beverage are made across the UK each day. And for those who fancy a change, coffee is the order of the day adding to the massive total of brews consumed. But with so many of the hot beverages being enjoyed, it's hardly surprising that many people don't think twice about how much water they pour into the kettle, reports Yorkshire Live. Yet overfilling when boiling water for a cuppa can lead to significant energy waste. For those who drink five to six cups a day, the extra water quickly adds up. If you're overfilling the kettle by just half a cup each time, it could add £39.62 to the typical £84 a year spent on boiling the kettle. That's a £40 increase on an annual energy bill for a habit that's easy to change. Taking a moment to assess how much water you truly need could make a world of difference, and not just for your energy bills. It can help the planet too. But it's not just the quantity of water you're boiling that impacts energy usage, as proper kettle maintenance can also lead to savings. Justin points out, "even small appliances like kettles contribute to overall energy use," emphasising the importance of keeping them in good condition for efficient operation. He continues, "Using kettles with low minimum-fill lines and promptly descaling them can result in noticeable energy savings." Kettles tend to accumulate limescale, necessitating extra effort to boil water. Descaling regularly is essential to maintain them at optimal performance, ensuring they consume less power for the same amount of water boiled. The issue of wasting electricity extends beyond kettles. Habits such as overloading the washing machine, operating a half-empty tumble dryer, and leaving lights on unnecessarily can increase your energy bills by hundreds of pounds each year. Luckily, altering these energy-intensive habits is relatively straightforward. Making minor tweaks, from boiling just the needed amount of water to utilising eco settings on devices, can significantly cut costs. Justin adds: "We've all been guilty at times of leaving the lights on or overfilling the kettle, but it's important to remember that these habits can all add hundreds of pounds a year to our bills."
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
