Brits shun traditional tea for loose leaves and green varieties
Figures from Mintel, a market research firm, suggest that tea drinkers in the UK are shifting from traditional brews to healthier green tea. In fact, green tea sales have doubled in two years since 2009 to reach £22 million ($29m) in 2011, whereas consumption of "builder's tea", a mix of black tea, sugar and milk, is falling. Sales of English Breakfast tea bags fell by £7 million, or roughly 2%, to £463 million. Although black tea still remains the most popular variety by far, young people in particular are turning away from the traditional cuppa. Furthermore, young people are also the biggest users of loose leaf tea, with 12% of people aged between 25 and 34 making tea without the use of tea bags, compared to 10% of people aged 65 and over.