How the Irish Take Their Tea: Strong, Milky, and 4 to 6 Cups a Day
For the Irish, tea is an event! How do they make the perfect cup?
Quick Reference: Irish Tea
- Per capita consumption: Ireland is the world’s #2 tea drinker (after Turkey), averaging 4 to 6 cups per person per day.
- Top blends: Barry’s Tea (Cork) and Lyons Tea (Dublin). Both are strong Assam-heavy black tea blends.
- Brewing method: tea bag in cup, just-boiled water, steep 4 to 5 minutes, add milk after steeping.
- The milk question: milk first is generally British. Irish typically pour milk AFTER steeping.
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Ireland drinks more tea per capita than almost any country on Earth, more than England, more than India. The standard Irish cup is strong, milky, and consumed 4 to 6 times a day from morning through evening. This guide is what makes Irish tea different from British tea, which two blends dominate the market, the brewing method that actually delivers a proper cup, and the cultural role tea plays in everything from a workman’s break to a wake.
What Makes Irish Tea Different
Per the Tea Association of the UK and Ireland, Irish blends differ from British in two specific ways.
- Higher Assam content. Irish blends lean on Indian Assam (broad-leafed, malty, robust). British blends often blend more Ceylon (Sri Lankan) for lightness.
- Cut for stronger brew. Irish bagged teas are typically cut finer (smaller leaves) which extracts faster and gives a stronger brew per minute of steep.
- Result: the cup is darker, more astringent, designed to stand up to whole-milk addition.
- Cultural reinforcement: a ‘weak’ cup of tea is a culturally negative thing in Ireland. Tea is meant to be strong enough to support work and conversation.
The Proper Brewing Method
Per Barry’s Tea and Lyons brand brewing guidance, plus widespread Irish household practice.
- One bag per cup. Two bags for a teapot serving two.
- Water just off boil. Boiling water is fine; do not let it sit cooling.
- Steep 4 to 5 minutes. Longer for stronger cup.
- Remove bag, then add milk. Milk first is generally British practice. Irish typically add milk after.
- Sugar to taste. 1 to 2 teaspoons is common but plenty take it plain or with milk only.
Irish Tea: Brewing, Service, History (Detail)
Below are the original detail sections covering what makes Irish tea different, when tea time is in Ireland, where to buy, how to brew, and a high tea menu.
Thank A Scot
Surprisingly, this hearty black tea was discovered in the 1830s, not by an Irishman, but by the famous Scotsman, Robert Bruce. He is noted to have found this indigenous tea plant (Camellia sinensis assamica) growing wild in the Assam district of India. The British East India Company subsequently began producing tea in Assam, and exported it to Ireland. It was first introduced to the upper classes around 1835, but by the middle of the 19th century tea became affordable for all to enjoy. Tea gained tremendous popularity, and has retained its status as Ireland’s favorite beverage.
A Unique Tea Service
The Irish are noted for drinking their tea strong and with lots of milk. Traditionally milk was poured into tea cups first to prevent the hot tea from cracking fine china cups. What started as a practical method of preserving fragile cups continues to be upheld by tea experts who found that pouring milk into hot tea after it is poured alters the flavor of the tea. Thus, tea aficionados uphold the tradition of pouring milk into the cup first for quality of taste. In Gaelic, the traditional language of Ireland, a cup of tea is called “cupan tae” or “cuppa tay.”
Irish Tea FAQ
What kind of tea do Irish people drink?
Almost exclusively strong black tea blends, with the two dominant brands being Barry’s Tea (from Cork) and Lyons Tea (from Dublin). Both are Assam-heavy and brewed strong with milk. Loose-leaf and herbal teas exist but are not the daily cup.
How many cups of tea do Irish people drink a day?
The Irish average is 4 to 6 cups per person per day, putting Ireland as the world’s second-highest per capita tea consumer after Turkey. Cups are distributed across the day starting with breakfast and continuing through evening.
Do Irish people put milk in their tea first or last?
Last, typically. The British ‘milk first’ tradition (a holdover from the days of fragile china that could crack from hot water) is largely a British custom. In Ireland milk is added after the tea has steeped.
What is the difference between Irish tea and English tea?
Irish blends are higher in Assam, cut finer, and brewed stronger. English blends often lean on Ceylon for a lighter cup. Both use black tea exclusively; both take milk. The Irish cup is generally darker, more robust, and brewed longer.
What is Barry’s Tea?
A Cork-based tea blender founded in 1901, now one of the two dominant brands in Ireland alongside Lyons. The Gold Blend is the flagship: a strong Assam-heavy black blend designed for the standard milky Irish cup.
Deborah Tukua
Deborah Tukua is a natural living, healthy lifestyle writer and author of 7 non-fiction books, including Pearls of Garden Wisdom: Time-Saving Tips and Techniques from a Country Home, Pearls of Country Wisdom: Hints from a Small Town on Keeping Garden and Home, and Naturally Sweet Blender Treats. Tukua has been a writer for the Farmers' Almanac since 2004.
- Deborah Tukua
- Deborah Tukua
- Deborah Tukua
- Deborah Tukua
My grandfather was an Irish sea captain who landed in GA and stayed. I never got to meet him so I enjoy hearing the “traditions” I never got to know. I wanted to know about cream/sugar added because I’ve recently adopted Irish Breakfast Tea as my favorite and it just seemed to scream “put some cream in it”. Thanks for the comments.
Even though I do not have Irish in my blood I have always had an affinity for the country and people. Learning how to take my tea properly is wonderful and I will now add my milk fist instead. Also, since we never liked raisins in our soda bread I have always left it out. Glad to hear it is the Irish way. Now to go enjoy my first cuppa of the day. Thank you so much!
I have recently discovered Irish breakfast tea. I love mine with lots of lactose-free milk and honey. Thank you for the tips on how to make the perfect cuppa.
Never, ever add milk to the tea POT! And never use cream. Add milk to the cup and then pour the tea over it.
Hi, my name is mary and I am of Irish desent. I love my tea,it brings back memories from childhood; after supper mom would make a pot of tea and we would all sit around the table and drink tea,talk,watch star trek. Friends would stop by for a cuppa. Loved those days and the people I shared it with. I take my cuppa with milk and sugar.
I drink about 8 to 12 cups of tea a day. I learned to love tea from my Grandmother when I use to stay with her. She always drank tea with sugar and lemon and gave me the same. When I wasn’t up to par, she would replace the sugar with honey. I drink coffee on occasion, but tea is my choice. Due to my love of tea, I have collected teapots, tea cups, small tea spoons and a selection of tea balls and lemon servers that squeeze the juice right into your tea. If I live to be 94 as my Mom and Grand mom did, it will be because of my love for tea like they had as well! I am neither English, Irish or Scottish, but love tea anyway.
Enjoyed the article but beg to differ about the soda bread. A true Irishman would never put raisins or caraway seeds in his soda bread. 🙂
Bob Raymond: Good point! Our recipe does contain both; but you are correct that traditionally, the bread was very much a peasant bread, and didn’t contain those ingredients. They’ve been added as the recipe has been Americanized. You can omit them when baking.
Aw sure look it Bob, any respectable Irish person knows that. We don’t even have raisins or caraway seeds in our presses, hah. One must be careful of these American websites with “Irish” recipes.
so all those first generation Irish in NY NJ who had made families aren’t Irish anymore? and in greater numbers than on the Isle. My dad would pop you on the nose
Emmaline let’s be kind. We Americans are good people.. really!
Thank you for helping me find the correction, milk before tea, to my misunderstanding the secret my great grand father introduced me to as a child. After years of coffee I’ve returned to tea, yet never managed to get my milk and honey to taste what my taste buds desired. Looking forward to even greater tea times!!!
was able to visit Ireland and thus embarked upon the Breakfast Tea. Just about the only tea I drink now!
I did not know that the Irish were so fond of milk in their tea…today is a good day to try this out..I usually just use a little honey…Great grandparents: Patrick Cullen” hailed from the homeland…..Thank you for sharing….