Brewing tea at home might seem like a minor expense, especially when compared to splurging on fancy teas outside, but the sheer volume of tea consumed in Britain tells a different story.
An astonishing 100 million cups of tea are guzzled down every day in the UK, which equates to about 2 to 3 cups per person.
The cost of ingredients for each cup may only be a few pence, depending on your preferred brew, yet the real cost lurks within the use of the kettle.
Tea aficionados at the UK Tea and Infusions Association (UKTIA) have pointed out that many Brits are significantly overfilling their kettles, leading to an eye-watering unnecessary national expenditure of approximately £900,900 daily.
Launching their Smart Boil campaign, the UKTIA aims to educate the public on crafting the ideal cup of tea while simultaneously saving money on yearly energy bills.
Dr Sharon Hall, who leads the UKTIA, stated: “Following the Smart Boil guidelines to fill the kettle with only the water you need is good for the planet as well as your budget.”
Dr Hall advises that to achieve the most economical tea-making round, one should measure the exact amount of water needed using a mug, then multiply by the number of teas being made. This method not only saves money but also offers additional benefits.
She added: “Boiling just what you need is also good for the flavour of tea which develops best when made with freshly boiled water. The lack of oxygen bubbles in re-boiled water can give tea a flat taste.”
According to a UK Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA) survey, almost half of the participants confess they boil three times as much water as necessary for their tea, with 70 percent idly letting the kettle cool down completely before re-boiling, while one in 10 disposes of the water altogether.
The survey also uncovers how the cost of living crisis is biting, as eight out of 10 Brits are turning to a hot cuppa just to keep warm, especially among individuals between 18 to 29 and those over 60.
Dr Hall, providing expert advice on tea-making, says pre-warming teapots can extend the heat of your brew and suggests that “I always think that 3-4 minutes for regular black tea brings out the best flavour. Herbal infusions can be brewed slightly longer.”
