Britain ditching traditional black tea at alarming rate
The United Kingdom, historically associated with black tea and one of the highest per capita consumers in the world, is in the midst of a revolution as far as its favorite cuppa goes, with drinkers ditching the classic black tea in droves. Figures from Mintel show that UK tea sales fell by 22% to 76 million kilograms between 2010 and 2015. This trend is predicted to continue with another 10% decrease by 2020. Experts say black tea is held back by its traditional image, especially amongst younger generations, and is having trouble competing with other beverages for Britain's share of throat. On the other hand, demand for specialty teas, including green and herbal varieties, is rising rapidly, with sales having jumped by 31% to $118 million between 2012 and 2014.