FOR MANY in the West Midlands, a love of tea doesn’t begin in adulthood.
It starts much earlier, woven into everyday routines, family life and school-day habits.
This International Tea Day – May 21 – new research revealed how early resident’s relationship with tea begins, and why it continues to endure for a lifetime.
A total of seven in 10 people in the region say they started drinking tea during their school years, according to a new consumer research survey of 1,000 British adults carried out on behalf of the UK Tea and Infusions Association.
This highlights tea as one of the UK’s earliest and most lasting shared rituals.
Dr Sharon Hall, chief executive of the UKTIA, said: “Tea is often introduced in very familiar, comforting settings – at home with family or during school years – and those early experiences can shape habits that last into adulthood.
“It becomes more than just a drink; it’s something people associate with routine, reassurance and connection.”
The UKTIA research shows that tea drinking is deeply rooted in early life for people in the West Midlands
A total of 37 per cent said they first started drinking tea in secondary school
A further 33 per cent traced it back to their primary school years. In fact, dietitians, nutritionists and GPs have confirmed children above the age of four can enjoy a weak, milk tea.
For some, the habit begins even earlier, with 10 per cent saying they were introduced to tea before the age of five.
Over one in 10 residents said they began drinking tea in their 20s, while smaller proportions picked it up later in life – around two per cent in their 30s and the remaining survey respondents from age 40 onwards.
These early beginnings may also help explain tea’s lasting role in British culture.
Previous research has shown, tea continues to be closely linked with everyday rituals, from moments of relaxation to social connection.
Dr Hall said: “Nearly half of people in the West Midlands say tea plays a role in regular catch-ups with loved ones, while 36 per cent associate it with family traditions.
“Nearly a quarter even agreed that tea acts as a bridge between generations in conversations.
“Whether it’s a quick break during a busy day or a longer conversation with friends or family, tea remains at the centre of how people connect and unwind.”
Home is also the most popular location for tea drinking among people in the West Midlands and nearly six in 10 said they made tea at home to take out with them, showing that many like to take the comfort of a cuppa with we are on the move.
Dr Hall added: “When something becomes part of your routine from a young age, it often carries a sense of familiarity and comfort into later life.
“That’s particularly true for tea, which is often linked to positive, everyday moments – whether that’s coming home from school or spending time with family.”
Even as lifestyles evolve, tea continues to adapt.
Whether it’s enjoyed at home or out and about, it remains a constant in an otherwise fast-changing world.
And for many people in the West Midlands, that consistency is part of its appeal.
