United Kingdom Tea Council

 

Tea - the world's favourite drink! For the fascinating history of tea, tea facts, information on tea businesses, tea and education and the best places to enjoy a cup of tea - look no further. Why not also try our new Tea Masterclass and learn everything you ever needed to know about tea - and get your Tea Master certificate.

For journalists and general users, there is a wealth of information including the latest tea news, fact sheets and an image bank. There is also a comprehensive archive of older news and event information.

The United Kingdom Tea Council is an independent non-profit making body dedicated to promoting tea and its unique story.

The United Kingdom Tea Council is an independent non-profit making body dedicated to promoting tea and its unique story for the benefit of those who produce, sell and enjoy tea the world over. We represent the world's major tea producing and exporting countries and the UK tea packing, and distribution companies.

On behalf of its members, the United Kingdom Tea Council works closely with the Food and Drink Federation, UK Food Standards Agency, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the European Food Standards Agency and a range of international bodies, to ensure that the quality of tea imported into the European Union meets the highest possible standards as regulated by law.

MYTHS

1. Drinking tea prevents iron from being absorbed from foods resulting in iron deficiency?
2. The high level of fluoride in tea is harmful?
3. Drinking tea is not good for the bones?
4. Tea contains nearly as much caffeine as coffee?
5. Does tea count to your 8 cups of fluid a day?

TRUTHS

Drinking tea prevents iron from being absorbed from foods resulting in iron deficiency?

Drinking tea will not result in iron deficiency for healthy individuals who are consuming a varied and balanced diet.

The absorption of iron is influenced by a number of factors including the amount of iron consumed, the chemical form (haem – animal sources including meat, eggs, fish, etc versus non-haem –vegetable sources including cereals, pulses, dried fruit, etc), interaction with other dietary factors and an individual's physiological condition (status of iron stores, period of growth, menstruation or pregnancy).

It has been suggested that certain compounds found in tea, called polyphenols, could reduce the absorption of non-haem iron from foods. However, studies looking at whether tea affects the actual iron status of individuals have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that drinking tea causes problems in healthy people.

In the mean time it is advised that those who have a poor iron status or are at risk of iron deficiency should avoid drinking tea with meals, and instead to wait one hour after the end of a meal before enjoying a cup of tea. Those not at risk of iron deficiency can enjoy drinking tea at any time of the day.

The high level of fluoride in tea is harmful?

No, fluoride is known to protect teeth from dental caries. The tea plant accumulates fluoride from the soil and for this reason a cup of tea is a natural source of fluoride.

Drinking tea is not good for the bones?

No. In the past it was thought that certain constituents found in tea, such as caffeine and fluoride, may weaken the bones. However, recent research is now suggesting that drinking tea can actually have a positive effect on bones. Studies among older women have found that women who drank four or more cups of tea a day had improved bone density compared to women who were non-tea drinkers. Furthermore, the milk that is added to tea, as enjoyed by the majority of the UK population, is a source of Calcium, which is important for bone health. In fact, the milk in four cups of tea a day provides 21% of an adult’s daily calcium requirements.

Tea contains nearly as much caffeine as coffee?

The idea that tea contains as much caffeine as coffee is erroneous. A cup of tea contains about a third of the caffeine in an average cup of filtered coffee and proportionately much less compared to an espresso.

Does tea count to your 8 cups of fluid a day?

Tea contains aproximately 96% water. It is an important source of fluid and can count towards your daily intake of 8 cups of fluid. Both the Food Standards Agency and the British Dietetic Association advise that tea can help to meeting daily fluid requirements.
- Tea consumption does not produce a diuretic effect unless the amount of tea consumed at one sitting contained more than 300mg of caffeine. This is equivalent to six or seven cups of tea at one sitting.
- Single servings of caffeine at doses exceeding 300mg may have a diuretic effect.
- However, a tolerance to caffeine develops so in the unlikely event of there being any diuretic effect, this effect is diminished in people who regularly drink tea.

 

• Melinda Messenger’s love of tea is down to health | 19 Jun 2008
• Black tea linked to a reduced risk of Ovarian Cancer | 07 May 2008
• Tea Advisory Panel - e-bulletin April 2008 | 25 Apr 2008