A cup of tea can significantly calm Britons in a crisis, according to a new university study.

The study, by psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross at City University London, confirms what millions of tea-lovers have long believed – that if you are upset or anxious, it pays to put the kettle on. Commissioned by Direct Line to explore Brits’ responses to crises, the study aims to explore why 68 per cent of us turn to tea in a dilemma – making the humble ‘brew’ the UK’s most common response to trouble (above even calling our mum).

The findings reveal that even a single cup of tea can significantly reduce anxiety levels after suffering a stressful experience – and in some cases, make people calmer than they were before. The experiment at the centre of the study, which placed volunteers in a stressful scenario, showed a 25 per cent increase in anxiety for those that didn’t receive tea immediately after the stress-inducing test. Conversely, those who were given tea actually demonstrated a four per cent reduction in stress.

Further psychological tests and focus groups conducted after the experiment indicate that tea’s calming benefits aren’t just a question of biochemistry – but also a matter of its ‘Britishness’.

Psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross, of City University London, said: “The ritual of making and drinking tea - particularly during times of stress - is at the very core of British culture.

“This study shows that the social psychological aspects of tea enhance the effects of its chemical make-up on our bodies and brains. It’s possible that this culturally rooted, symbiotic function between mind and body explains why Britons instinctively turn to tea in times of need.

Put simply, the findings illustrate what most mothers would tell us: if you’re stressed, anxious or just feeling blue, make yourself a nice calming brew.”

This evidence of tea as a cultural crutch in times of need is supported by new omnibus research, which reveals that nearly half (48 per cent) of tea-drinkers claim the reason they find calm at the bottom of a cuppa is because of the drink’s quintessential Britishness and association with cultural icons such as the Queen.

Past studies have pinpointed tea’s unique soothing properties, but this research shows that less than a fifth (19 per cent) of us are actually prompted to put on the kettle because of its special ingredients. The promise of comfort and warmth (60 per cent) and the means of psychological escape (41 per cent) are instead the primary reasons we seek such solace in the calming cuppa.

Matt Owen spokesperson for Direct Line comments: “We wanted to explore the phenomenon of tea-drinking as a solution to a problem, looking at the reasons that this habit seems to be so deeply stitched into the fabric of British culture.

“Putting the kettle on to help solve a problem is something that pervades soap operas, films and literature alike. Whether that’s Hugh Grant in Notting Hill repeatedly offering tea to a frazzled Julia Roberts or the trip to the local café by Sir Alan’s would-be Apprentices before facing a boardroom grilling.”

When trouble’s brewing, it takes Britons 1.6 cups (Women: 1.5. Men: 1.8) of English Breakfast tea with milk and 1.5 sugars to completely regain their cool - which on average they achieve 13 minutes faster than without one (19.5 mins vs 32.8 mins).

Whilst Facebook group ‘A Cup of Tea Solves Everything’ has the fanatical support of 221,946 members, ‘tea-mergencies’ are generally considered to be more moderate and everyday occurrences. Kinds of daily dilemmas a cup of tea can solve includes:

1. A stressful day at work (63%)

2. Office politics (56%)

3. An argument with a friend (27%)

4. Missing a train or a crucial deadline (22%)

5. A broken heart (21%)

Owen continues: “The research shows that it’s during these ‘everyday’ crises that Brits turn to tea as a comfort blanket. Our experts have coined the phrase ‘tea-mergency’ to cover these crises, as they can be soothed and sometimes solved by a calming cuppa.

“In response to these ‘tea-mergencies, Direct Line has launched its own blend of ‘Tea-mergency tea’, created by master blender Alex Probyn. We’ll be scouring Twitter to see who’s suffering from a tea-mergency and then sending them the tea to help ease their day. For those not suffering from a tea-mergency but who would still like to taste the brew, please visit www.teamergency.com to try and win some.”

For more information and to win free tea, please visit www.teamergency.com or @teamergency on Twitter.


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		Tea Is For Trouble New science shows why Britons reach for the kettle in a crisis A cup of tea can significantly calm Britons in a crisis, according to a new university study. The study, by psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross at City University London, confirms what millions of tea-lovers have long believed – that if you are upset or anxious, it pays to put the kettle on. Commissioned by Direct Line to explore Brits’ responses to crises, the study aims to explore why 68 per cent of us turn to tea in a dilemma – making the humble ‘brew’ the UK’s most common response to trouble (above even calling our mum). The findings reveal that even a single cup of tea can significantly reduce anxiety levels after suffering a stressful experience – and in some cases, make people calmer than they were before. The experiment at the centre of the study, which placed volunteers in a stressful scenario, showed a 25 per cent increase in anxiety for those that didn’t receive tea immediately after the stress-inducing test. Conversely, those who were given tea actually demonstrated a four per cent reduction in stress. Further psychological tests and focus groups conducted after the experiment indicate that tea’s calming benefits aren’t just a question of biochemistry – but also a matter of its ‘Britishness’. Psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross, of City University London, said: “The ritual of making and drinking tea - particularly during times of stress - is at the very core of British culture. “This study shows that the social psychological aspects of tea enhance the effects of its chemical make-up on our bodies and brains. It’s possible that this culturally rooted, symbiotic function between mind and body explains why Britons instinctively turn to tea in times of need. Put simply, the findings illustrate what most mothers would tell us: if you’re stressed, anxious or just feeling blue, make yourself a nice calming brew.” This evidence of tea as a cultural crutch in times of need is supported by new omnibus research, which reveals that nearly half (48 per cent) of tea-drinkers claim the reason they find calm at the bottom of a cuppa is because of the drink’s quintessential Britishness and association with cultural icons such as the Queen. Past studies have pinpointed tea’s unique soothing properties, but this research shows that less than a fifth (19 per cent) of us are actually prompted to put on the kettle because of its special ingredients. The promise of comfort and warmth (60 per cent) and the means of psychological escape (41 per cent) are instead the primary reasons we seek such solace in the calming cuppa. Matt Owen spokesperson for Direct Line comments: “We wanted to explore the phenomenon of tea-drinking as a solution to a problem, looking at the reasons that this habit seems to be so deeply stitched into the fabric of British culture. “Putting the kettle on to help solve a problem is something that pervades soap operas, films and literature alike. Whether that’s Hugh Grant in Notting Hill repeatedly offering tea to a frazzled Julia Roberts or the trip to the local café by Sir Alan’s would-be Apprentices before facing a boardroom grilling.” When trouble’s brewing, it takes Britons 1.6 cups (Women: 1.5. Men: 1.8) of English Breakfast tea with milk and 1.5 sugars to completely regain their cool - which on average they achieve 13 minutes faster than without one (19.5 mins vs 32.8 mins). Whilst Facebook group ‘A Cup of Tea Solves Everything’ has the fanatical support of 221,946 members, ‘tea-mergencies’ are generally considered to be more moderate and everyday occurrences. Kinds of daily dilemmas a cup of tea can solve includes: 1. A stressful day at work (63%) 2. Office politics (56%) 3. An argument with a friend (27%) 4. Missing a train or a crucial deadline (22%) 5. A broken heart (21%) Owen continues: “The research shows that it’s during these ‘everyday’ crises that Brits turn to tea as a comfort blanket. Our experts have coined the phrase ‘tea-mergency’ to cover these crises, as they can be soothed and sometimes solved by a calming cuppa. “In response to these ‘tea-mergencies, Direct Line has launched its own blend of ‘Tea-mergency tea’, created by master blender Alex Probyn. We’ll be scouring Twitter to see who’s suffering from a tea-mergency and then sending them the tea to help ease their day. For those not suffering from a tea-mergency but who would still like to taste the brew, please visit www.teamergency.com to try and win some.” For more information and to win free tea, please visit www.teamergency.com or @teamergency on Twitter.