With three-quarters of people in Belfast saying they tend to pop the kettle on when friends pop in.

For people in Belfast who love a brew, they need to mark 11th–17th August in their diaries - the dates set for the annual celebration of a Great British tradition: Afternoon Tea Week.

This year, the event coincides with the release of a new real-world research survey of over 1,000 British adults, [1] commissioned by the UK Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA; tea.co.uk).

The survey shines a light on tea’s supporting role in life and friendships through thick and thin – and as a result, the UKTIA is supporting the charity Breast Cancer Now, who are the smart brains behind an annual fundraising event during Afternoon Tea Week (https://breastcancernow.org/afternoon-tea).

Dr Sharon Hall, Chief Executive of the UKTIA, comments: “It was incredibly heartwarming to see reflected in our latest real-world survey data all the ways in which people in Belfast find support for themselves and each other with the aid of a humble cup of tea.

“We need the support of our friends and family during the best of times and the worst of times – not least during a cancer journey. As a result, the UKTIA is supporting the charity - Breast Cancer Now – by raising awareness of their very special Afternoon Tea Week fundraising event, 11-17th August 2025. This year, the week is all about getting the nation to ‘dust off their whisks and stick the kettle on to hold an Afternoon Tea, raising money for people affected by breast cancer.”

“All the donations raised from the week will go behind the charity’s vision, which is that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live – and be supported to live well. (https://breastcancernow.org/afternoon-tea/about-afternoon-tea.).”

Dr Sharon Hall continues: “Three-quarters (75%) of people in Belfast said they tend to pop the kettle on when a friend pops over, showing how much of a natural reflex and a social institution making a cuppa for our guests is for Brits.”

For some, the social connection side of tea doesn’t stop when they go to work, as 25% of people in Belfast said that they took it in turns with their colleagues to make tea for everyone. Tea itself can be a great support on those hard days, too, with over half (56%) of people in Belfast saying they drank tea to help them calm down.

“Over half of people in Belfast (56%) also said they reached for a cuppa to give themselves some thinking time, which we all need regularly to help us function – not least if we’re dealing with something as challenging as a cancer diagnosis,” says Dr Sharon Hall.

When life gets tough, having something to lift our spirits can be a game-changer. Indeed, 13% of people in Belfast surveyed said the key reason they drink tea is for the ‘pick me up’. When asked how drinking a cup of tea makes them feel, seven in 10 (69%) said it gives them comfort, while 63% said it helps them relax.

But really, the most important thing for any of us when we’re dealing with life’s ups and downs – whether minor or major – is the support of friends who can listen or give us a hug. For people in Belfast, a cup of tea provides the ideal way to help the conversation flow.

“Sometimes you don’t even need to talk about the big thing – you just need to be around supportive people having a normal conversation,” says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, “Indeed, the everyday topics people in Belfast said they talk about over a cup of tea include:

The weather 31%
Relationships 31%
Holidays 25%
Gossip 25%
Work 13% ”

“People in Belfast also revealed through the survey how vital their close family connections are to them,” says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, “When asked which inspiring woman they’d most like to have tea with, three in 10 (31%) said their mum, showing just how important the most significant woman in most of our lives is to us.”

This strength of family connection shines through in our willingness to make tea for those closest to us, with 100% of people in Belfast saying they’d be willing to make tea for their family.

Our readiness to make tea also shows that for many of us, our friends come a very close second to family, with 75% of people in Belfast saying they’d be willing to make tea for their friends.

“Each year, Afternoon Tea Week serves as the perfect excuse to catch up over a cup of tea and a bit of whatever takes your fancy, whether it’s a sweet biscuit (38%) or a chocolate biscuit (38%) – the most popular choices among people in Belfast–a piece of cake (31%), a sandwich (13%) or all four,” says Dr Sharon Hall.

Whether your family and friendship circle is experiencing life’s highs or lows, Afternoon Tea Week provides the perfect opportunity for a get-together.

“To enhance the feel good factor of your Afternoon Tea, sign up to receive a fantastic fundraising kit from Breast Cancer Now,” says Dr Sharon Hall, adding, “You’ll get a donation box, posters, bunting and games – all you need to make your Afternoon Tea into a fun celebration while giving something back.”

Dr Sharon Hall also shares her top 5 suggestions for turning the tea itself into a conversation starter by trying something different. She suggests:

Earl Grey.“Earl Grey offers a citrusy Bergamot aroma, which is great for summer and goes really well with a jaffa cake.”
Green tea.“Green tea feels refreshing, clean and mildly grassy, for a lighter option to a traditional black brew. Add a fig roll for the ultimate green afternoon tea.”
Red bush (rooibos).“Some like to avoid caffeine later in the day, making rooibos an ideal option, which is best accompanied by an oaty biscuit.”
Chamomile. “Chamomile offers delicate flavours of apple, vanilla and honey, making it a perfect brew to go with a malted milk.”
Peppermint.“Refreshing and lively, a cup of peppermint can help perk you up any time of day. Try it with something chocolatey, like a dark chocolate digestive.”