Brewing at Altitude: Airline Tea Offerings in Honor of International Tea Day
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Tea is more than a beverage – it is a ritual steeped in culture, history and hospitality. The drink has bridged classes and continents, from tea salons in Singapore to British drawing rooms. In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 21 as International Tea Day, which airlines use to highlight their favored tea providers.
Partnering with Trusted Tea-makers
Recognizing tea’s enduring cultural appeal, airlines worldwide have formed trusted tea partnerships with premium tea producers that last for years. For example, this year’s International Tea Day saw Emirates celebrate working with Dilmah Tea for the past 33 years by presenting a complimentary pack of luxury leaf artisan teas to customers on all flights, and offering Dilmah Tea cocktails and mocktails across its global lounges.
If numbers are anything to go by, it’s clear why airlines place importance on, and enjoy drawing attention to what kind of tea they serve. Emirates said it serves over 33 million cups of Dimlah Tea each year, and British Airways (BA) serves similarly copious amounts of its own “cuppas.” According to BA Chief Customer Officer Calum Laming, throughout 2024 the airline “served more than 37 million cups of tea in the air, and more than two million cups in [its] lounges globally.”
So, when BA announced it was ending its partnership with British tea institution Twinings, which had been in place for over a decade – Twinings designed a custom blend for British Airways in 2013 – it made headlines. The UK’s flag carrier has now teamed up with Birchall Tea, and at the beginning of May began serving its Great Rift English Breakfast blend in First Class. Having won a Great Taste Award for a record 14 consecutive years, it is the UK’s most awarded tea. Many of the brand’s other flavours will also be available in First Class and in other cabins.
An Infusion of Character
The decision of which tea company to partner with is also an opportunity for airlines to make a statement about themselves and the kinds of values they want to reflect and endorse. In a clever marketing move, Leisure carrier Jet2.com became the first UK airline to serve Yorkshire Tea onboard. Based in the North of the UK, where Yorkshire Tea originated, Jet2 capitalized on the idea of staying true to its roots, offering passengers a “proper brew.”
Across the pond, Porter Airlines‘ decision to serve blends from Sloane Fine Tea Merchants in 2019, founded by Hoda Paripoush – one of the first certified tea sommeliers in North America – shows its commitment to both local Ontario companies and to sustainability.
Cathay Pacific is also proud of its long-standing partnership with luxurious brand JING Tea, which begun in 2016 and has led to the creation of three new drinks for First Class passengers. Two are to be enjoyed hot, with cabin crew given “comprehensive training” on the perfect brewing method, and another is a sparkling jasmine pearls green tea, which is served on a welcome reception tray complete with a welcome note and hot towel.
“Tea is Always a Good Idea”
Some airlines take their tea offering beyond just the humble cup. Two of the United Kingdom’s largest carriers, BA and Virgin Atlantic, embrace one of the cornerstones of British identity, the afternoon tea.
BA serves its own version of afternoon tea on long-haul flights in its first- and business-class cabins. Passengers are provided with a selection of finger sandwiches including fillings such as roast beef and smoked salmon, along with warm plain or fruit scones served with cream and jam. The service is delivered to passengers on custom china meant to mimic a luxurious tea service found on the ground. Elsewhere, it offers a buy-on-board version that can be paired with a hot drink or an alcoholic beverage.
Virgin Atlantic also provides Upper Class passengers with its modern, cosmopolitan take on an afternoon tea, the Mile High Tea service. Offered on most flights from the UK to the US and the Caribbean, it similarly includes sandwiches, scones, and a wide assortment of sweet treats, including chocolate truffles.
In October 2024, the airline expanded its afternoon tea offering to both premium economy and economy, showcasing two different finger sandwich flavours: “Dill and caper cream cheese with cucumber and spinach on turmeric bread and cheddar with chutney on malted bread.”
And it is not just the Brits who see its value. American Airlines recently announced it is trialing an afternoon tea experience on inbound flights from London and Paris complete with “sandwiches, scones, crème and jelly.”
How do you Take Your Scones?
On a recent flight with Virgin Atlantic, APEX Group CEO Dr. Joe Leader was treated to a lesson in British culture by flight service manager Lezah Cooper, who explained the way you top your scones can be attributed to a specific county in the UK: Devon or Cornwall.
Cooper, who has been with the airline for 31 years, explained the Cornish method starts with cutting the scone in half and then smearing the jam on each side. Next, Cooper explained, “You grab a big teaspoon of clotted cream, and you dollop it on and enjoy.” The Devonian method is the other way around: “They pop the cream on first, then spread the cream, and then put the jam on top.”
As airlines compete to differentiate their in-flight service, especially in premium cabins, tea will continue to play a pivotal role. Whether it showcases an airline’s national identity, provides comfort during long-haul flights, or contributes to a sense of luxury, a well-brewed cup of tea is one of air travel’s simplest pleasures.