Britons drink 166 million cups of tea every day, according to a survey. Almost a quarter of people have five cups or more.
In comparison, only 70 million cups of coffee are consumed daily despite the rapid expansion of the coffee shop sector in Britain.
One in five people admit they need their morning brew before they can even think about starting their day.
Most are creatures of habit with a third always using the same cup or mug, and more than half saying the way they take their tea has not changed in years.
Most like it darker and stronger rather than weaker and milkier.
The survey of 2000 adults was carried out by the pollsters for WRVS, a charity representing older people.
