Is Britain's Love For Tea Cooling Off?

[naomi24]

'It’s an old person's drink', says one bright young spark   Others say they prefer water or diet soda drinks, and coffee sales are up.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpll9l535o

 

So are we falling out of love with tea?

[Rosetta]

Diet soda drinks contribute to tooth decay and drinking coffee outside the home is very expensive (as tea is probably). I must admit I only drink redbush tea these days with the occasional cup of coffee in the morning. But then I am not young

[douglas9401]

Diet soda they say, as if an extra on Suits.

I suppose waving a cup with 'Tetley' on it isn't as kewel as any of the aspirational coffee brands currently hoovering the pockets of the enslaved.

[rowanwitch]

For conventional teabag black tea but not for speciality loose leaf, proper tea made in a teapot, not for herb, fruit, and green teas, and of course chai.  Seems to be a huge growth area, with the big companies joining in.   

I drink a wide variety, current favourite is Russian caravan from a little shop in Stratford, although I still love a Lady Grey, or a good rich Assam. Also have mint, fennel, chamomile, night time blend( twinings)and green with lemon. 

[Ken4155]

^

No wonder you're the colour you are 😉

[Khandro]

Darjeeling, without milk of course, can't be beaten.

A really good tip when you are out by the way is only drink tea. Most coffee served up is disgusting, with a tea-bag and hot water you can't go wrong.

[pastafreak]

I drank coffee when I was younger. I remember the old fashioned percolater pot on the stove as my parents drank coffee every morning. I switched to tea under the influence of my future English husband. It was back to coffee at home about 12 years ago, though I had plenty of tea at work. I stopped drinking tea when I retired. Haven't had any in about 5 years.

[Khandro]

😄 at ken !

[nicebloke1]

We have fallen out with teabags full of dust.

[Old_Geezer]

The "dust" simply brews the tea more quickly.

 

Favoured beverages will inevitably go up and down the popularity table, but as tea is relatively healthy compared to many options (especially sweetened sodas and sugary energy drinks) it's unlikely to fade out.

 

I personally have always preferred coffee but I'm happy to have a mug of good strong tea too. Besides if one wants a warm drink one benefits from having a wide selection to choose from.

 

I think younger generations often like to distinguish themselves from their parents' generation. But they may find their offspring do the same in their turn and return to something more traditional.

[Old_Geezer]

Amazes me that infusions that seem not to contain tea seem to be labelled tea anyway. Do they all have a small percentage of tea in them, or are they breaking the trade description act ?

[davebro3]

I think they should be "tisanes" really.

Anyway I still drink plenty of common or garden teabag tea. I've got Earl Grey & Lapsang Suchong but rarely touch them.

[dave50]

It seems very fashionable these days to be seen walking around with a cup of coffee. Are people so much in a hurry they haven't time to have one before they leave the house?

[curlyfries81]

I love a cup of tea. I have a thermos mug which I fill with tea and take with me every morning as I have a bit of a wait each morning doing the school drop-offs. 

I couldn't imagine like without a good old-fashioned tea. Sure, I like a coffee, but tea is the drink of the Gods.

[curlyfries81]

*life*

[dave50]

Tea doesn't taste very good from a flask for some reason.

[bhg481]

dave - try taking the milk in a second flask rather than putting it in the flask with the tea.

[Khandro]

^^ Or don't use it at all  😃

[dave50]

I will try that!

[naomi24]

Best to take just boiling water and separate milk and tea bags.   The tea will be much fresher.  If your tea bags don't have a string attached, don't forget a spoon.

[bhg481]

Naomi - that's what we always do. It has the advantage that you can make tea and coffee from the same flask of water but I expect the tea experts will say the tea isn't the same when made from water which has gone off the boil; it doesn't bother us.