Why the British Prefer Tea Despite Being Surrounded by Coffee Lovers

Ever wondered why Britain, surrounded by some of the world’s most coffee-obsessed countries, remains stubbornly a nation of tea drinkers? From Scandinavia to Belgium, coffee is king — yet across the Channel, Brits queue for tea. What made tea, not coffee, the drink of the British Isles?

Simply put: Britain couldn’t grow coffee, relied heavily on imports from tropical colonies like Sri Lanka — until a fungus destroyed the industry — and culturally embraced tea as a cheaper, more resilient, and socially unifying beverage. By the late 1700s, annual tea imports surpassed 10,000 tonnes, and today Brits drink an average of four cups of black tea per person per day.

A Once Coffee-Loving Nation

In the 17th and 18th centuries, coffee wasn’t just present in Britain — it thrived. London alone had over 2,000 coffeehouses by the end of the 1600s. These weren’t just caffeine stops; they were vibrant social hubs known as “penny universities,” where, for the price of a penny, patrons drank coffee, read newspapers, and exchanged ideas. Coffee culture was woven into the fabric of British public life.

Why Coffee Couldn’t Thrive in Britain

Britain’s climate simply doesn’t support coffee cultivation. Coffee trees need cool, rainy environments between the 25th parallels north and south — but the southernmost point of Britain sits at 50°N. That geographic limitation meant coffee had to be imported. For much of the 17th and 18th centuries, Dutch traders controlled global coffee supply, sourcing beans from their colonies in Indonesia, Suriname, and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). The central highlands of Ceylon proved ideal for growing coffee, and under Dutch management, it became a booming coffee region.

The Shift to Empire-Grown Coffee — and Its Collapse

When Dutch influence waned in the 19th century, Britain took control of Ceylon and aggressively expanded its coffee plantations. British planters moved into higher altitudes, clearing forests to establish vast coffee farms. Between the 1830s and 1860s, coffee cultivation in Ceylon doubled, then doubled again by the 1880s to nearly 1,600 square kilometers — around 15% of the island’s farmland. Exports surged 20-fold between 1840 and 1870.

But in 1875, disaster struck: coffee leaf rust, a devastating fungal disease, spread through Ceylon’s plantations. Leaves developed yellow spots that turned red before merging into rusty blotches, leading to defoliation and tree death. Efforts to fight it failed. The industry collapsed.

From Coffee to Tea: A Strategic Agricultural Pivot

To recover, Britain replaced coffee with tea plants, which were better suited to Ceylon’s conditions and resistant to the rust. Tea flourished and transformed the island into one of the world’s top tea exporters — giving rise to what the British now call “Ceylon tea.” That tea found its way to Britain, embedding itself in daily life.

How Tea Took Over British Life

Tea’s rise wasn’t just about supply — it was cultural. By the late 1600s, tea imports to Britain skyrocketed from just 6 tonnes officially in 1699 to over 10,000 tonnes by the century’s end. While aristocrats enjoyed afternoon tea, it was the working class — including labourers and even beggars — who made tea a national staple. The so-called “builder’s tea” — a strong black tea with milk and sugar, brewed in a mug — became the everyday drink.

Tea breaks became institutionalised: “elevenses,” “afternoon tea,” “bedtime tea,” and even “four o’clock tea” (a.k.a. teatime), when everything stopped for a cup. A traditional “high tea” originally referred to a rustic, early evening meal with tea and bread in farming communities — today it’s a posh affair in fine dining settings.

Modern Brits drink around four cups of black tea per day, averaging 3.5 kilograms of tea per person annually. It starts with “bed tea,” continues through “breakfast tea,” “builder’s tea” at work, “afternoon tea,” and ends with a “cuppa” before bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the British ever really love coffee?

Yes. In the 17th and 18th centuries, coffee was hugely popular in Britain, especially among the middle and upper classes. London had over 2,000 coffeehouses by 1700, which served as important social and intellectual hubs. Coffee was part of daily life before tea took over.

Why did coffee plantations fail in Ceylon?

Ceylon’s coffee plantations collapsed in the 1870s due to coffee leaf rust, a fungal disease that destroyed coffee tree leaves and killed the plants. Efforts to control it failed, leading to a complete shift from coffee to tea cultivation under British management.

What is builder’s tea?

Builder’s tea is a strong black tea made by steeping a tea bag in hot water, then removing the bag, adding milk, and sugar to taste. It became popular among labourers during the Industrial Revolution and remains a staple of British working-class culture.

How much tea does the average Brit drink?

The average British person drinks around four cups of black tea per day, equating to roughly 3.5 kilograms of tea per person annually. Tea is consumed multiple times a day, from morning to bedtime.

What role did colonialism play in Britain’s tea supply?

Colonial expansion gave Britain access to tea-growing regions like Ceylon (Sri Lanka). After coffee rust destroyed Ceylon’s coffee industry, the British switched to tea cultivation there. Tea from Ceylon became a primary supply source for Britain’s growing tea habit.

When did tea become a daily habit for all social classes in Britain?

By the late 18th century, tea drinking had spread across all social strata in Britain. Initially a luxury for the wealthy, by the 1800s it was common among labourers, servants, and even beggars. This widespread adoption solidified tea as a national drink.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Tea-Loving Coffee Fans

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