Latest news with #UKTIA
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Tea Expert Shares Top 7 Tea Pairings For The Perfect British Tea Break This International Tea Day
Taking place on the 21st of May each year, International Tea Day is dedicated to celebrating the global significance of tea – historically, culturally, and economically. It's also a great excuse to enjoy a great British tea break. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Taking place on the 21st of May each year, International Tea Day is dedicated to celebrating the global significance of tea – historically, culturally, and economically. It's also a great excuse to enjoy a great British tea break. This year, International Tea Day coincides with the publishing of a new real-world UK Tea Census Study[1] of over 1,000 Brits commissioned by the UK Tea and Infusions Association (UKTIA) - - which sheds light on what goes best with this great British brew. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Everyone knows that Brits love a cup of tea, but the new UKTIA Tea Census Study also reveals the ideal accompaniment to a cuppa in Scotland, with the top answer overall being a sweet biscuit (48%),' says Dr Sharon Hall, Chief Executive of the UKTIA, adding, 'Indeed, after a sweet biscuit, the second top answer overall was cake, which was chosen by 38% then a chocolate biscuit for nearly one quarter (23%).' Tea and biscuits Biscuits and tea go together like a cup and saucer for Brits right across the generations. A sweet biscuit was the top answer for almost every age group – 18-24s (46%), 25-34s (46%), 35-44s (44%), 45-54s (45%), and 65+ (43%). However, the top answer for the 55-64s – clearly a more frugal group – was 'Nothing, I have the tea by itself.' 'International Tea Day is a day in the annual calendar of world events designated by the United Nations to raise awareness about tea's history, cultural significance, and economic importance,' says Dr Sharon Hall, explaining further, 'Few other populations in the world have such a strong reputation for being a nation of tea lovers than the Brits – which you could also say makes us experts in what goes best with a brew.' Savoury snacks were far less popular, with less than one in five (21%) saying they tended to have a sandwich with their cup of tea, 12% choosing crackers and 8% choosing crisps. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Interestingly, though, as Dr Sharon Hall explains: 'There was a generational divide on sandwiches with tea. Whereas only one in 10 (9%) of the 18-24s picked a sandwich as their teatime treat, one in five (20%) of both of the older age groups (55-64s and 65+) selected this savoury option.' Cake with a cuppa, on the other hand, decreased in popularity almost in line with increasing age. '31% of the 18-24s would choose to eat cake with their tea, dropping to just 21% of those aged 55-64s, suggesting younger adults have a sweeter tooth than older adults[2],' says Dr Sharon Hall. This was also backed up by higher sugar use by younger adults when making a cuppa. Away from tea breaks, nearly two thirds of Scots (62%) said they sat down for a main meal with a cup of regular 'black' tea. Breakfast (31%) was the most popular meal to enjoy with a brew, followed by and evening meal (29%), then lunch (17%). So sacred is tea in the British psyche, some tend to pass up an alcoholic drink in favour of a brew, according to the UKTIA Tea Census Study. When asked if they would ever opt for a cup of tea over an alcoholic drink, nearly two thirds (60%) of Scots said they had. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Interestingly, the youngest age group (18-24s) were the most likely (four fifths or 81%) to have ever chosen a brew over an alcoholic beverage. The age group the least likely to have picked tea over alcohol when presented with the choice were the 45-54s (around two thirds or 64%). With biscuits clearly the ideal accompaniment for a great British tea break to celebrate International Tea Day 2025, Dr Sharon Hall helpfully shares her top biscuit pairings for a selection of 7 different teas. Traditional British brew (black tea). 'The simplicity of a chocolate digestive makes it the perfect pairing for a cup of regular black tea. It's also a great option for dunking.' Earl Grey.'The citrusy Bergamot aroma of a cup of Earl Grey goes really well with the citrusy flavour of a jaffa cake.' Green tea.'Refreshing and clean, green tea matches a biscuit that doesn't overpower and compliments its mild grassy flavour, making a fruit biscuit such as a fig roll the ideal pairing.' Red bush (rooibos).'Many prefer a caffeine-free rooibos for later in the day. The delicate sweetness of an oaty hobnob goes extremely well with this option.' Chamomile. 'The delicate flavours of apple, vanilla and honey many find in a cup of chamomile are well matched to a simple biscuit such as a malted milk.' Peppermint.'This is where a chocolate biscuit really meets its match, with chocolate and mint being a delicious flavour combination. Try a dark chocolate finger with your refreshing cup of peppermint.' Liquorice.'Liquorice is a less obvious choice of tea for many but well worth trying with a piece of sweet, buttery shortbread.'
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
