There are few galvanising forces amongst the British public that are as effective as the humble cup of tea.
It really is the beverage for all occasions: fuel for hard days on construction sites, a little something to take the edge off a wait at the hairdressers’, a comforting drink to mourn a wedding or celebrate a funeral. You name it, you can have a tea with it.
With this cultural touchstone comes a pretty serious degree of protectiveness, not least when it comes to other cultures daring to step on our tea-loving toes.
We’re probably most upset about the idea of Americans getting in on the action. From the Boston Tea Party to Alex Morgan celebrating a goal against England by sipping from imaginary fine chinaware, we’re not exactly seeing eye-to-eye on soaking dry leaves in boiling water.
But, as it turns out, the enemy is within the walls.
A startling poll has revealed that over half of Gen Zs are committing a cardinal sin against steeped brown water: they’re brewing it in microwaves - a controversial method often associated with our friends across the pond, who are less worried about sticking to tradition.
But before you pick up your intergenerational pitchfork, it’s best to sort out your own front lawn before you start picking on the neighbours’.
While 58% of Gen Zs admit to the crime, 32% of Millennials are at it, and 15% of Gen X are on the take as well.
The Boomer contingent sits at 10%, while their predecessors in the Silent Generation are doing it at a rate of 6%.
While it’s a common practice in the US, unfortunately this data is from the UK and was collated by USwitch.com.
Natalie Mathie, an energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “We nearly spat out our tea when we saw how many Gen Z tea-drinkers were making their cuppa in the microwave.
“It’s possible that many younger people use a microwave because kettles are often banned in student accommodation, but this is a trend that’s growing with each passing generation.
“While it seems like an affront to basic tea-making traditions, if it works for people, who are we to argue?
“However you’re boiling your water, make sure you only put in the amount of water you need, as heating excess water can waste a lot of electricity.”
USwitch also provided data around the microwave-brewing hotspots around the UK. Apparently, 39% of Londoners are doing it on the regular, with Birmingham residents following in second on 26%. Joint-second is Leeds, also on 26%, with Liverpudlians completing the ill-fated podium with 25%.
Featured Image Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images
Rachael Davis