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In a nation known for its unwavering love of tea, with approximately 100 million cups drunk by Brits daily*, Vauxhall has responded in uniquely British fashion with the Vivaro Electrici-TEA, a one-off concept designed to provide tradespeople with the perfect tea break from the comfort of their very own van. New research from Vauxhall** has found that nearly all tradespeople (90%) say a good cup of tea has a positive impact on their day, and almost half (49%) believe that getting a good hot drink can even make their day. According to the poll, almost half of tradespeople (46%) enjoy three to four cups of tea per day, and just under a quarter (22%) will drink five to six cups, while 6% drink seven cups or more. Although 71% appreciate it when a customer makes them a cup of tea, almost half (49%) said they prefer a tea they’ve made themselves, with the main reason (60%) being that it’s because they know how they like it, and just under half (48%) said that it tastes better when they make it.
Unsurprisingly, 93% of tradespeople polled said that if they had the facilities to make their own tea while on the go, they would likely do so.The one-of-a-kind Vauxhall Vivaro Electrici-TEA van includes an electric kettle, tea bag dispenser, a perfect brew tea timer, thermal mugs, a fridge with space for milk or milk alternatives, and a sink with a 10-litre water supply, plus a tin for snack storage. The tea-making station is conveniently accessed via one of the standard twin sliding side doors of the Vivaro Electric and is easily accommodated within the impressive load volume of up to 6.6m3. Each item in the tea-making van has its own custom-made space so it can be stored securely when on the move.
When it comes to making the perfect cup of tea for tradespeople, Vauxhall’s research found that the tea bag should be steeped for just one minute and 53 seconds, and the tea should be served not boiling but “warm”, and “just cool enough to sip comfortably”. Almost three-quarters (72%) of tradespeople add sugar to their tea, with an even split between those who prefer one or two teaspoons (32% each).
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Top tips for making the perfect builder’s tea:
- Add your tea bag – Yorkshire Tea is the favourite for 37% of tradespeople.
- Pour in boiling water – 76% add water before milk for the best brew.
- Steep for 1 minute 53 seconds – that’s the average brewing time.
- Remove and gently squeeze the tea bag on the side of the mug before discarding.
- Add sugar – 72% sweeten their tea, with an even split between 1 or 2 teaspoons (32% each).
- Top up with milk – semi-skimmed is the choice for 39%, giving a medium strength tea.
- Serve warm, not boiling – 59% prefer it just cool enough to sip comfortably.
- Pair with a biscuit – a chocolate digestive is the top pick for 34% of tradespeople.
The Vauxhall study also revealed the top three choices of tea bags preferred by British tradespeople: Yorkshire Tea (37%), PG Tips (22%), and Tetley (19%), which are housed in the built-in tea dispenser found in the tea-making station within the Vivaro Electrici-TEA van. “A cup of tea” (49%), “cuppa” (45%), and “brew” (34%) are the most common phrases used by tradespeople when getting a tea, and 13% of those aged 18 to 24 even use the term “a Rosie Lee”.
While on a job, over a third (35%) of tradespeople prefer to enjoy a cup of tea outside in the fresh air, closely followed by 29% who opt to drink it in their van. The top choice of biscuit to accompany the perfect brew is the chocolate digestive, according to over a third (35%) of those polled, with 62% saying they regularly dunk their biscuit in their tea.
Steve Catlin, Vauxhall Managing Director, said: “With 90% of tradespeople saying that a good hot drink has a positive impact on their day, we wanted to create the ultimate tea-making solution for the thirsty tradespeople of Britain; the Vivaro Electrici-TEA concept does exactly that, providing all the tools necessary to create that perfect brew from the comfort of their own van.
“The builder’s brew can mean a wide variety of things, but our research puts the uncertainty to bed to ensure those working on site get what they are looking for."
“Vauxhall is proud to be the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer and one of the top choices for British tradespeople, and we created the Vivaro Electrici-TEA concept with them in mind. It’s time we put an end to poorly made cuppas and give tradespeople the right tool for the job.”
