Why Do the British Drink Tea Instead of Coffee? (Solved & Explained!)

The British drink tea instead of coffee because the import of tea brought in more power and control to the British Empire during the 1700s. Since then, Brits have enjoyed relishing in the benefits and taste of the beverage. 

Now, Brits drink 100 million cups of tea everyday, totalling almost 36 billion cups per year. On the contrary, only 70 million cups of coffee are drunk daily in Britain.

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Why Do the British Drink Tea Instead of Coffee?   

Tea culture is inextricably woven into British culture, starting with almost bi-hourly tea breaks. Regardless of the situation, tea is almost always present. But why?

Tea is intertwined with British history

The reason why tea first became so popular in Britain is because it brought in unprecedented wealth when the British began importing it from Asia. 

From there, whenever tea was at the forefront of the news, so was Britain. Throughout the Opium Wars, the Boston Tea Party, and tens of hundreds of colonies making deals with the British in exchange for their tea, the history of tea became forever intertwined with Britain.

Tea is the “healthy” option

One of the biggest reasons – other than simple enjoyment – that the British drink tea instead of coffee is that tea is considered to be full of health benefits.

Tea is full of amino acids, vitamins, and antioxidants, and thousands of companies around the UK market tea specifically as a beverage which improves the health of its drinker.

Tea has less caffeine than coffee

When compared to coffee, most types of tea have very little caffeine. It is because of this that tea is considered a relaxing and comforting drink, which can then be consumed throughout all hours of the day. 

Even when the British aren’t drinking black tea, they are drinking a caffeine-free alternative, such as rooibos tea or camomile tea.

Tea is less bitter than coffee

Unless it is a green tea boiled at 212F, tea is generally not as bitter as coffee. Many consider coffee to have a very astringent taste, which is not enjoyable for British audiences.

It is also because of this that tea consumption begins at a younger age, with even children drinking tea.

Why Do the British Drink More Tea Than Coffee?

Originally, Britain consumed more coffee than tea, and within fifty years of the first coffee house opening in England, there were over 2,000 coffee houses in London alone!

However, towards the end of the seventeenth century, the British East India Company lost the ‘little brown berry of Arabia’ to the French and the Dutch, and had to focus on another money-maker. This turned out to be tea.

As such, the East India Company began to hone in its focus on the tea industry – and within ten years, the annual tea imports averaged 800,000 pounds. In 1757, more than four million pounds of tea were imported.

Why Do the British Add Milk to Tea?

The reason why the British add milk to their tea is because in the 17th and 18th centuries, the china cups that tea was served in were so delicate that they would crack under the heat of the boiling tea.

As such, milk was added to lessen the heat of the tea and keep the cups intact. Even today, many British people add milk to their cups before they add the tea.

What is Traditional English Tea?

Black tea is the most popular tea in Britain, followed by Earl Gray, oolong, and herbal tea. When most people think of ‘traditional’ English tea, they are often thinking of traditional afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea was first introduced in Britain in the early 1840’s as a small meal to stem the hunger and anticipation of an evening meal.

Now, afternoon tea is served at many hotels and tea rooms, where cups of tea are served beside clotted cream and preserves, cakes, pastries, and sandwiches. 

What Types of Tea Do the British Drink?

Of course, the British enjoy drinking black tea, but there are several different types that they switch between.

• English Breakfast: This is one of the most popular types of black tea in Britain, as it is dark, robust, and goes perfectly with a full English breakfast. It usually contains a blend of Indian Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan black teas. Sometimes, Darjeeling is moved in.
• Earl Gray: This is typically Assam or Darjeeling tea infused with bergamot oil and sometimes vanilla. This is a fruity, floral tea which is loved for its natural citrusy sweetness.
• Assam Black: This is a boldly fragrant tea from India which can be especially bitter. As such, it is consumed with a lot of milk and sugar.
• Darjeeling Black: Grown in Darjeeling, India, the Darjeeling black tea is often referred to as the ‘Champagne of tea.’ This is just to its fresh, fragrant flavors which is popular amongst connoisseurs.
• Ceylon Black: From Sri Lanka, the Ceylon black tea is loved for its citrus, chocolate, and full-bodied flavor. It is because of this that Ceylon tea is most commonly found in British blends.
• Green/ Oolong/ Herbal: There is a growing trend amongst young drinkers where green, oolong, or herbal teas are preferred over black tea. Whilst black tea is still the most consumed type of tea in Britain, over the next few decades this may change entirely.

What Brands of Tea Do the British Drink?

In regards to brands, the British stick primarily to tea companies which primarily focus on black tea. In 2017, the Telegraph compiled a list of the UK’s top tea brands, with the most popular being:

• Yorkshire Tea (for its strength)
• Twinings Tea (for its versatility) 
• PG Tips (for its Breakfast Tea)
• Chipper (for the ‘healthy’ option)
• Tetley Tea (for its price)

How to Make British Tea

The most popular form of British tea is a black tea bag served in a mug with milk and sugar. Oftentimes, it is served with cake or biscuits, and comes with only a few steps:

1. Boil a kettle
2. Once the kettle has boiled, pour the water into a mug
3. Add a black teabag
4. Let it brew for around two minutes 
5. Squeeze the teabag and remove
6. Add milk
7. Add sugar
8. Serve with biscuits
9. Enjoy!