STiR coffee and tea magazine

32 STiR coffee and tea / Issue 2, 2022 (April / May) By Dan Bolton T Germans Set Tea Germans Set Tea Consumption Record Consumption Record he German Tea & Herbal Tea Association (Teeverband.de), based in Hamburg, reports that tea consumption (both Camellia sinensis and herbal and fruit infu- sions) grew by 2 liters in 2020 to a record of 70 liters per capita. "Despite all the pitfalls that were to be circumnavigated during the pandemic, tea always gave hope and ensured confidence," writes the association. The report describes a positive trend emerging "as tea, herbal, and fruit infusions have become even more popular with consumers in Germany." East Frisians averaged an astonishing 300 liters per capita during the stay-at-home year, according to the Record Institute for Germany*. The institute noted that the 475,000 residents there drink an average of 6 cups of black tea a day, an estimated 14 million liters per year, exceeding per capita totals for Ireland (222 liters), Great Britain (177 liters), and Libya (287 liters). According to the International Tea Committee, Tur- key at 277 liters broke its own record for consumption in 2020, with per capita increase from 3.5 to 4 kilos. Teeverband totals include increased consumption of black and green teas and herbal and fruit teas. Per capita consumption of herbal and fruit infusions increased to 42 liters per year, with Camellia sinensis consumption of 28 liters per capita. Black tea accounted for 73% of tea consumption, green tea 27%. Homeopathic infusions for colds and flu are excluded. Germany is the largest importer, processor, and consumer of medicinal and aro- matic plants in Europe. Most botanical infusions are single-herb teas, a category that includes popular peppermint leaf, ginger root, fennel fruit, and chamomile flowers. The remainder of the blends is mixed herbs according to the Wirtschaftsvereinigung Krauter, und Fruchtetee. The Teeverband report estimated rooibos consumption at 3.1%, Yerba Mate at 2.1%, rosehip at 4.3%, chamomile at 9.9%, Fennel at 10%, and peppermint at 14%. Germany ranks 17th per capita for tea consumption (excluding botanicals) at 28 liters per capita. Global consumption was estimated at 297 billion liters in 2021. Ac- cording to the tea association, Germans prefer black tea with sugar and without cream. Sixty percent of camellia sinensis drinkers prefer loose leaf tea to tea bags and sachets. Download the 20-page at https://teeverband.de/der-verband-en. Footnote *The record institute evaluated figures from the British sta- tistical authority, the German Federal Statistical Office, and the German Tea and Herbal Tea Association to recognize the achievement. Accordingly, with their annual consumption of 300 liters, the East Frisians also outperform tea nations such as Libya (287 liters) and Turkey (277 liters). Consumption by Type Herbal and Fruit Infusions 38% Blends Herbal and Fruit Infusions 30% Single varieties Tea 23% Black Tea 9% Green

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