British tea has always been accompanied by biscuits but lately, there have been some changes. A survey has discovered that the young generation of the UK like savoury snacks, particularly samosa, with their tea.
The United Kingdom Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA) met with 1,000 people to ask about their tea snacks. Among 18-29-year-olds, one in ten people liked granola bars. Samosa ranked second with 8% of people liking it. However, no one above the age of 65 liked the savoury snack with their tea.
Dr Sharon Hall, the chief executive of the UKTIA, said people might be choosing granola bars because it is a filling snack. "They may be looking for something a little bit more substantial. The same would apply to a samosa." She added that young people prefer nutty or spicy flavours because they evoke memories of dishes eaten on gap years while travelling around the world.
A similar study from a market research company Mintel shows that people in the age group 16-24 are half as likely to enjoy a sweet biscuit with their tea when compared to those over the age of 55.
Future sales of sweet biscuits are at risk if the younger generation does not establish the hot drink with biscuits habit, said Mintel after interviewing 2,000 tea drinkers. "Gen Z has little time for the old rules of three formal meals per day, and TikTok has introduced them to a melting point of culinary traditions. Snacks won't ruin the meal, they are the meal," said Jonny Forsyth, director at the group's subsidiary Mintel Food and Drink.