Tidbits about Tea

• The British have been drinking tea for nearly 400 years
• Tea breaks are traditions that have been with us for approximately 200 years. Initially when workers commenced their day at around 5 or 6am, employers allowed a break in the morning when food and tea were served. Some employers repeated the break in the afternoon as well.
• There are 26 tea-growing nations. The principal ones are India, China, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Indonesia
• Over 50% of our tea comes from East Africa – Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe
• Tea is the second most popular beverage in the world, next to water
• Tea is the sixth most popular beverage in United States.
• Over 80% of the tea consumed within the United States is consumed as an iced beverage.
• In 1904, Thomas Sullivan an enterprising tea and coffee merchant in New York is credited with the accidental discovery of tea bags.
• The Irish consume more tea on a per capita basis than any other nationality.  The Irish consume 7.1 pounds of tea annually equivalent to 1,417 cups per year or nearly 4 per day.  By comparison, the British consume 5.74 pounds per person or 3.2 cups per day and in the U.S., .75 pounds equivalent to about one cup per day.