<P> Since the eighteenth century, the United Kingdom has been one of the world's greatest tea consumers, with an average annual per capita tea supply of 1.9 kg (4.18 lbs). The British Empire was instrumental in spreading tea from China to India; British interests controlled tea production in the subcontinent . Tea, which was an upper - class drink in mainland Europe, became the infusion of every social class in Great Britain throughout the course of the eighteenth century and has remained so . Tea is a prominent feature of British culture and society . </P> <P> In both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the drinking of tea is so varied that it is quite hard to generalise . While it is usually served with milk, it is not uncommon to drink it black or with lemon, with sugar being a popular addition to any of the above . Strong tea, served in a mug with milk and sugar, is a popular combination known as builder's tea . </P>

Where did tea come from in the british empire