. This is no surprise, as tea is believed to have originated in China and has been consumed there for thousands of years. Tea is also closely associated with the United Kingdom and traditions such as afternoon tea and high tea. The British have been drinking tea since the 1600's, when it was first brought by Dutch traders. However, it wasn't until the late 18th century, when tax on tea was reduced, that it gained widespread popularity. The UK is also among the top 20 largest tea markets in the world.
Market overview
Despite the love affair with tea, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on
the UK tea market. Sales declined significantly in 2020. However, the market subsequently recovered and is expected to generate around 2.1 billion British pounds each year until 2029.
The
sales value of tea manufactured in the United Kingdom also increased slightly after the crisis.
Unsurprisingly, tea imports also suffered around 2020 and 2021. However, the
value of UK tea imports rose sharply in the year that followed and remains above the pre-pandemic levels in 2023. In fact, it amounted to almost 250 million British pounds.
Consumer landscape
When it comes to
leading tea brands, Tetley has a slight lead over Yorkshire tea, with sales of 9.35 million and 9.24 million British pounds respectively. As far as
supermarket brands, Tesco had the most loyal following.
Expenditure on tea has fluctuated slightly over the years, reaching an average of 16 pence per person per week.
High- income earners spent the most on tea, but not much above average.
This text provides general information. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ assumes no
liability for the information given being complete or correct.
Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date
data than referenced in the text.
