According to the UK Tea & Infusions Association, we Brits are turning to tea not just for warmth, but also for comfort, focus and a much-needed break.
The UK gets through an impressive volume of tea as almost all of us (98%) drink at least one cup a day. 43% drink tea for comfort, 38% for warmth, whilst 63% use tea to calm down, and 62% to clear their minds. Despite this, over a quarter rush making their brew, with only one in 14 of us following the recommended 3-4 minutes brew time for the perfect cup of tea. And 7% admitted to only dunking the bag for a few seconds, barely giving the water a chance to change colour.
Despite this, regular black tea remains the nation’s favourite hot drink – a ritual that helps people slow down and embrace the season.
Taking a moment to ourselves with a cup of tea allows us to take stock of where we’re at, what we need, and what we want.
Birchall is one of the largest exporters of black teas from East Africa in the world, and its commitment to quality is evident through the strict tasting process, where over 5,000 teas are sampled every week to ensure only the best blends are selected. The brand’s dedication to excellence is reflected in its unparalleled track record. In addition, Birchall Tea holds the prestigious title of the UK’s most awarded tea for taste (Great Taste Awards of which I happen to have been a proud judge for quite a few years), a remarkable achievement maintained for an unprecedented 14 consecutive years.
Birchall’s teas are often found in upmarket hotels and B&B’s and I think this was probably where I first encountered these great teas.
Birchall’s origins date back to 1872 and Captain Birchall George Graham, an officer with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was posted to India, where he served for a number of years. After his military career, he started growing tea in Darjeeling, and the seeds of a tea dynasty were planted.
It also recently swept up two other awards – both Gold, one at The Leafies and one at The Grocer’s New Product & Packaging Awards for their ‘Great Rift’ and ‘Serengeti’ blends respectively.
The Leafies International Tea Awards are the leading awards for tea in the UK and were first launched in 2022 by the UK Tea Academy in collaboration with Fortnum & Mason. Birchall’s Great Rift has been celebrated as one of the best teas, achieving the highest possible award, Gold. The Leafies identifies and promotes integrity, excellence and collaboration within the international tea industry and is revered as a pinnacle achievement within the industry. 
In The Grocer’s New Product & Packaging Awards, Birchall’s Serengeti also won Gold, within the Hot Drinks & Cold Brew category. Serengeti was recently launched by Birchall in partnership with Tusk, the esteemed African wildlife conservation charity. Through every sale of the new tea,, 5p will be donated directly to Tusk, underscoring Birchall’s commitment to sustainable and ethical practices.
I’ve tried both Great Rift and Serengeti and they are superb. Great Rift has a depth and roundness that reminds you how important it is to choose a quality tea. With Serengeti, the master blenders discovered rare Tanzanian teas to bring a rich tasting breakfast tea. Inspired by the vibrant wildlife in the Serengeti. This new tea is bold and refreshing and will make any morning come alive.
All Birchall’s award winning teas are sourced from East Africa, where the very best teas are found. The high altitude, lush volcanic soil and heavy rainfall of this equatorial area combine to create the perfect set of conditions for producing tea of unparalleled flavour.
Still showing dedication to protecting wildlife in the regions it sources its teas, Birchall Virunga™ is a pure origin tea, sourced from the finest tea gardens in Rwanda, close to the Virunga National Park. In this region, the tea bushes grow slowly, at high altitude and relatively low temperatures, developing greater flavour. 5p from every pack goes towards saving the Virunga National Park.
If you are a real tea aficionado, I’d recommend trying this new bundle from Birchall Tea that will take you through your day and introduce you to the different teas available. Birchall’s new Morning, Noon and Night tea allows you to enjoy your favourite hot beverage when you wake, when you have 3 o’clock slumps and when you want to sleep! The offer features three boxes of tea for just £10 with three different flavour options, optimised for the time of day.
Needless to say, Birchall’s offers a full range of teas, including Green Tea, and a range of herbal infusions. There is Earl Grey (one of our favourites) as well as a really good Peppermint Tea (both with two Great Taste stars). Or this wonderful selection box contains four tea bags from each of the full range, from East Africa and around the World in a beautiful box.
It will also make a fabulous gift.
