Having decided to use our next Bowdon Vale session of Dementia Conversations – which w
e link now to Christians on Ageing – for a ‘Time for a Cuppa’ happening, I was intrigued to read that companies who provide us with tea are troubled by falling sales as we become a ‘Coffee Nation’.
Intrigued because my own life experience tells me that tea is still the regular beverage or ‘brew’, with coffee rather more expensive, coming in increasingly sophisticated forms, and essentially a treat. The picture is certainly complicated: older people are probably more loyal to tea than are younger people, but overall older people drink more of both!
A survey in 2018 found that the UK was drinking 95 million cups of tea or coffee each day. One third of those questioned never drink coffee. Average intake for under 20 year olds was half a cup of something per day. People over 50 were drinking on average 2.2 cups per day. Personal reflection suggests I drink ten cups a day when I am at home, less when I am out and about – in a ratio of roughly two teas to one coffee. I drink instant coffee for the most part and builder’s tea – neither being decaffeinated.
Coffee/tea and dementia: Long-term studies of people whose tea and coffee habits are known in mid-life suggest that regular intake of either brew is associated with a lower incidence of dementia than is seen in abstainers.
It is thought that antioxidants derived from the plants which give us tea or coffee, may be helpful in this.
No need to hold back on our cuppas then – We will have both available – decaffeinated and normal – Free Trade – And there will be cakes and opportunity to talk.
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