As a nation of tea lovers, Brits have a rich history steeped in tea making and drinking, but is there an unspoken tea code in the UK workplace? A new Tea Census by the UK Tea and Infusions Association launched for International Tea Day (21 May), suggests so – and it’s very British.
What are your rules when it comes to tea making? Some of us may be conscious of our boundaries when it comes to making a brew while others among us may never have considered who we are – and are not – prepared to pop the kettle on for.
Coinciding with International Tea Day, which takes place on 21 May each year, a new real-world Tea Census Study of over 1,000 Brits, commissioned by the UK Tea and Infusions Association (UKTIA), reveals the extent of Brits’ generosity when it comes to who they’re prepared to make tea for.
“Some Brits tend to be a little shy when it comes to tea making for other people,” says Dr Sharon Hall, Chief Executive of the UKTIA, continuing, “With one in 20 (5%) admitting that they are not prepared to make tea for anyone but themselves.”
International Tea Day is a day designated by the United Nations “to celebrate the cultural heritage, health benefits and economic importance of tea.” As a renowned nation of tea lovers, Brits, in particular, have a rich history steeped in tea making and drinking, complete with all of the tea-related quirks and behaviours they have picked up throughout the years.
“The tea-making hierarchy among Brits is perhaps most stark in the workplace,” says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, “Brits have told us through this our real-world Tea Census Study that they are more likely to make a cuppa for the postman (24%) than their work colleague (23%). Interestingly, however, more women (27%) than men (19%) said they would make tea for a work colleague.”
When it comes to the age divide, the group most likely to make tea for a work colleague were the 45-54s (30%), while only 21% of the younger people (25-34s) said they would be prepared to put on the kettle for someone more junior at work.
“Aside from preferring to brew for themselves, only a third of those polled (36%) said they would make tea for someone doing work at their home, such as a plumber or gardener. This was still more than those who said they would make tea for their boss (24%), however,” says Dr Sharon Hall.
The UK Tea Census Study revealed that when Brits do get generous with their tea making, they tend to keep it close to home.
When asked who they would be willing to make a cup of tea for, 85% said their family – the top answer. This was followed by ‘my friend’ for 76% of those surveyed and ‘my neighbour’ for 49%.
Further highlighting the strong family ties associated with tea making among Brits, when asked which inspiring woman they would most like to have tea with, a third (33%) of those surveyed said their mum.
Only one in 10 (11%) said their best friend, who sadly was pipped to the post by The Princess of Wales (16%) in the tea companion popularity stakes.
“Our UK Tea Census Study also revealed a tea making gender divide,” says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, “Women (89%) were more likely than men (80%) to make tea for their family, while men (7%) were more likely to only make tea for themselves compared with women (3%).”
To discover more about tea, visit www.tea.co.uk.
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