New Data Reveals Hot Drink is No Longer Britain's Cup of Tea

Britain, a nation of tea drinkers appears to be falling out of love with the leaves. "A cup of tea is a vital part of everyday life for the majority of people in modern Britain - in fact tea is so integral to our routine, that it is difficult to imagine life without it," states the UK Tea and Infusions Association.

"It was over the course of several hundred years that tea gained its place as our [Britons] national drink."

Did you know that in the 18th & 19th century one would drink tea from the saucer? This would help cool the #tea pic.twitter.com/zZmfpgwxuW

— The Royal Butler (@TheRoyalButler) February 16, 2016​

However, the cup of tea, drunk almost ritually by millions of people is not as popular as it used to be.

It's estimated that people in Britain are drinking just eight cups of tea a week — down from 23 in the 1970s, according to the National Food Survey which has been asking households in Britain to fill out food diaries since 1940.

The latest release of data from the National Food Survey is a fascinating snapshot of our changing tastes #OpenDefra pic.twitter.com/pEGG27smYf

— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) February 18, 2016​

Newly published data reveals that tea consumption has fallen from 68 grams per week to just 25 grams.

Another shift in Britain's taste buds, revealed in the National Food Survey, suggests that the tradition of eating fish and chips on a Friday has fallen out of flavor. Consumption of white fish — or takeaway fish has halved over the last 40 years.

See how our breakfast tastes have changed over the last 40 years #OpenDefra pic.twitter.com/sGxDycYajJ

— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) February 18, 2016​

The National Food Survey was set up during the Second World War because the government was concerned about the public's health and access to food. The weekly dairies provided a national estimate of the types and quantities of food bought and consumed in Britain — and the changing taste buds of a nation.

"Food is the heart and soul of our society and this data not only shows what we were eating 40 years ago, but how a changing in culture has led to a food revolution," Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss told Sputnik.

"Shoppers are more plugged in to where their food comes from than ever before, the Internet has brought quality produce to our doorstops at the click of a button, pop-up restaurants are showcasing the latest trends and exciting global cuisines are now as common as fish and chips," Truss said.

But it seems the so-called food revolution isn't to everyone's taste — or as the popular British saying suggests, their "cup of tea."