Tea supplies will be tight!

Fears over a possible shortage of black tea owing to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are unfounded, according to retailers and brands.

Sainsbury’s had this week warned shoppers of “supply issues affecting the nationwide supply of black tea” in some stores. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) subsequently admitted there was “temporary disruption to some black tea lines” in stores.

The issues have been linked to disruption of shipments in the Red Sea, through which freight tea shipments from Asia and east Africa travel to reach UK shores.

Half of British tea comes from India and Kenya and is required to be transported via the Red Sea, where vessels have come under fire from Houthi rebels in recent months.

However, industry sources have told The Grocer that whilst some tea shipments were being redirected and hence were taking longer to reach the UK, this was not having a major impact on supply to retailers.

The United Kingdom Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA), which represents over 90% of all tea sold in retail in the UK, said its members were “currently reporting good stocks of tea needed to continue supply to UK customers”.

“Shoppers should not be concerned; their favourite tea brands will continue to be available,” UKTIA CEO Dr Sharon Hall said.

www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/tea-shortage-fears-unfounded-despite-houthi-red-sea-attacks/688186.article

Urmstongran

I think it must be Jamie! Honestly I drink at least half a dozen mugs of tea a day. One coffee. That’s plenty. Mind you for a Lancashire Lass my favourite brew is Yorkshire Gold!

The late Tony Benn apparently drank enough tea to float the QE2. He drank it from huge mugs.

He reckoned he was drinking about a pint of tea every hour .

... and once ended up in hospital with polyneuritis which, it was claimed, might have had something to do with his prodigious tea-drinking!

Tea shortage? Disaster!!!!!
Dont let's all panic buy and make it worse 😕

This is a non-story. The headline spin will possibly encourage panic buying, but as Ailsa43 has pointed out up thread, there is no reason for there to be a shortage of tea on the shelves.

There had better not be as I’m also a Manchester tea drinker and it would cause ructions if I couldn’t get my (decaffeinated) fix. 🫖☕️

henetha

Tea shortage? Disaster!!!!!
Dont let's all panic buy and make it worse 😕

I thought that, and a chance to raise prices, was the whole point of the mention of it on TV and in newspapers.

Yet another case of ‘ignorance is bliss’.

If we weren’t informed of things like this, there would be no stress, no panic buying, no empty shelves, (no need to increase prices?)….

Looks like I will have to live on wine then, what a hardship 🤣🤣

I thought most black tea came from Yorkshire is the M62 blocked?

Bella

We're pretty occasional tea drinkers, coffee is our preferred choice, I do need at least 3 of those in the morning so commiserations to serious tea drinkers if they have to go without, I know I'd be the same without my daily coffees. I bought a huge box of Yorkshire Tea when we had our painter decorator here, he practically lives on the stuff, but I still have quite a bit left. I also have loads of Pukka type teas, everything from getting a good night's sleep, calming, peppermint, turmeric. I buy them when they're on offer with every intention of using them, then after a while I forget they're there.

I work in Supermarket. pleeeeeeeeeeeeeenty of tea, loads and loads.

Does it remind of the "toilet roll" fiasco .

henetha

Tea shortage? Disaster!!!!!
Dont let's all panic buy and make it worse 😕

Noooooooooo!😲
I can’t exist without constant mugfulls, is that even a word?
Off out to stockpile right this minute.😁

Mugfulls is a wonderful word and describes perfectly the best way to drink tea.
I've got a grocery delivery coming tomorrow. Shall I add just one large pack of tea-bags? Or is that going against my own advice...

Calendargirl

Yet another case of ‘ignorance is bliss’.

If we weren’t informed of things like this, there would be no stress, no panic buying, no empty shelves, (no need to increase prices?)….

If ships carrying tea have to go round the Cape of Good Hope instead of short-cutting through the Suez Canal, that will increase the cost of getting it here (and elsewhere) and of course it would then be justifiable to pass that cost on to tea buyers whether we knew beforehand about the added journey costs or not.

But, yes, panic buying is a mug's game 😉

We buy huge sacks of Yorkshire tea and also have Ringtons delivery for de caff tea and coffee.
I think we could manage 6 months!

Sago, if the worst happens, may I come to you? If there are no teabags I will be most distressed, and, therefore, disgruntled. That is a very dangerous combination..

My Sainsbury seems to run very low on tea bags regularly. We needed tea so i did buy a large box his morning. Very few eggs on shelf this morning only very expensive ones then i remembered it was pancake day yesterday.

Sago

We buy huge sacks of Yorkshire tea and also have Ringtons delivery for de caff tea and coffee.
I think we could manage 6 months!

We know where to come 😁☕

Oreo

henetha

Tea shortage? Disaster!!!!!
Dont let's all panic buy and make it worse 😕

Noooooooooo!😲
I can’t exist without constant mugfulls, is that even a word?
Off out to stockpile right this minute.😁

If I'm going to be pedantic, I think it's mugsfull 😁

But a mug is the best way to drink tea, as long as it's a china mug.

Callistemon
Come and ave a go if yer think yer ard ennuf!😂
I insist on mugfulls, so there.

Has to be china, though!

I completely forgot!
To add teabags to my order. It's too late now
Mugfulls...mugsfull...

The woman in the next checkout At Sainsburys yesterday morning had 8 large boxes of tea bags in her trolley! And nothing else! She was blithely telling the cashier that she was then off of Tesco to do the same there! What is that all about!! Surely sainsbury should have limited purchase numbers! Does not really bother me as I don’t like tea anyway! What’s next???

I stocked up yesterday so will be fine this year.

gma

The woman in the next checkout At Sainsburys yesterday morning had 8 large boxes of tea bags in her trolley! And nothing else! She was blithely telling the cashier that she was then off of Tesco to do the same there! What is that all about!! Surely sainsbury should have limited purchase numbers! Does not really bother me as I don’t like tea anyway! What’s next???

That's shocking some people are so selfish, why would anyone need that amount of tea? fancy boasting about it at the till, makes that person look an idiot. I remember the panic when Covid hit and we were all told to stock up with paracetamol but there would be individuals who'd buy up all the stocks, until everyone was limited to one packet.

Incidentally the tea isle appeared to be well stocked at Sainsburys yesterday, but I suppose that won't last if ridiculous people bulk buy in that "I'm alright Jack, pull up the ladder" manner and yes once it becomes a thing supermarkets should be proactive in limiting how much any one person can purchase.