Majority of Brits turn to tea to help them relax, says new real-world research
The mental health charity Mind has estimated that, in any given week, 6% of Brits are struggling with generalised anxiety, while an earlier UK study found that three-quarters felt so stressed that they were overwhelmed or unable to cope.[1]
The worrying statistics released by mental health charities show that the nation is very much in need of practical strategies to help ease their minds and bolster their mental wellbeing.
But there’s a supportive step we can all take that’s simpler than we think – taking regular breaks to enjoy a cup of traditional black tea.
“According to a new real-world research survey carried out on behalf of the Tea Advisory Panel (TAP; www.teaadvisorypanel.com), over half (52%) of Brits drink tea because it helps them relax.” says Dr dietitian and TAP member Carrie Ruxton.
Fill your cup
Other mental health-related benefits Brits selected when asked how tea made them feel included giving them comfort (55%), making them feel calmer (30%), and boosting their mood (29%).
Dr Carrie Ruxton says, “The TAP real-world research survey data tally with a review study – Tea and Herbal Infusions, Psychological Stress, Anxiety & Sleep Health: A Systematic Review of Human Trials & Mechanistic Studies[2] – which showed important mental health benefits of the Nation’s favourite hot drink.”
The review, authored by nutrition and wellbeing experts, analysed 33 different studies including eight clinical trials on humans and found that several types of tea – including regular black tea – can improve stress management and sleep.
“Nobody is suggesting that a regular cuppa tea can solve all of the nation’s mental health woes, but there’s good evidence that it can go a long way towards easing the symptoms associated with stress and anxiety,” Dr Carrie Ruxton adds.
What could be simpler than upping your intakes of something you love to consume anyway? A nice cup of regular black tea.
“Almost all of us (98%) drink at least one cup of tea a day, while only about a third (37%) of us drink three to four cups a day, according to the TAP real-world data,” says Dr Ruxton, explaining that, “Four cups a day is the sweet spot for gaining the health benefits associated with your brew, so there’s definitely room for improvement.”
Mental health benefits gleaned from drinking a cup of regular tea included that all-important chance to take a break, as stated by over a third (37%) of TAP survey respondents, while a similar proportion (36%) enjoyed the ‘pick me up’ they got from their brew.
Tea is also a great soother, as confirmed by over half (55%) of survey respondents, who said that their cuppa gave them comfort.
Additionally, four in 10 (42%) said having a cup of tea could help people see the bright side of things, while around the same number (40%) said putting on the kettle helped to encourage someone to open up. Dr Ruxton notes: “The benefits of tea are part cultural and part science. Tea goes back a long way in our national psyche and we associate it with home, family, relaxing and being cosy. But there is also hard evidence linked to special bioactives found naturally in tea”.
“Mind the science
Brits are clearly switched on when it comes to their feelings about their brew, as they also happen to be backed by science.
Dr Carrie Ruxton shares an example, commenting, “Researchers in Japan found that simply inhaling the aroma from black tea lowered stress levels when volunteers were asked to complete mental maths stress tests. Additionally, the aroma of Darjeeling tea in particular was shown to boost mood in advance of completing a stressful task.”[3]
Additionally, a UK study found that drinking tea regularly for six weeks resulted in lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, compared with the group given a solution containing equivalent levels of the polyphenols known as flavanols.[4]
Certain substances are thought to support tea’s mental health effects, with the 2023 review study pointing to a few calm-inducing compounds in a regular cuppa.
“GABA is a naturally occurring amino acid which acts as a neurotransmitter and is known to regulate stress and sleep, so there is every reason to believe that teas which contain GABA will help to ease stress and improve sleep,” says Dr Carrie Ruxton.
L-theanine is another amino acid found in black tea. “L-theanine has been shown to regulate sleep disorders via the GABA receptors and the neurotransmitter system, which relays messages between the brain and body,”[5]explains Dr Ruxton, adding, “Unfortunately, only around one in seven (13%) respondents in the TAP survey knew that L-theanine is linked to brain health.”
Additionally, the TAP real-world research survey highlighted one group in particular, who experience more mental wellbeing woes. “Women in their midlife may live with mental health issues as a symptom of menopause. But unfortunately, three in five (59%) didn’t think having a cup of tea could help with menopause symptoms, which feels like a missed opportunity to add another simple means of support at what can be a challenging time for many,” comments Dr Carrie Ruxton.
Looking back through history, though, we can see that tea has been known for certain wellbeing benefits for quite some time. William Gladstone, one of Britain’s longest serving Prime Ministers (1868-74, 1880-5, 1886, 1892-4), once summed up the benefits of a brew in this ode to a cuppa: “If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.”[6]
Dr Carrie Ruxton concludes, “Tea has been supporting Brits through tough times for generations. There’s no denying that the nation is presently climbing a mountain of stress and its resulting mental wellbeing issues. While anyone experiencing mental health symptoms is always advised to speak to their doctor as soon as possible, taking a break and relaxing with a cuppa is a tried and tested way to help ease the pressure of modern life – even if just for 10 minutes.”
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