Price of Earl Grey tea

robinwales

We went to a National Trust tearoom yesterday and had a pot of Earl Grey tea for two. Ordinary tea is charged at £1.65 per person (£3.30 for two). Earl Grey is priced at £1.85 (£3.70), 40p more. There were two tea-bags in the pot.

I asked why there was such a difference and was told that they buy ordinary tea in bulk at a low cost, but with speciality teas they have to buy as an ordinary shopper would. Looking at the costs you can get tea-bags from a cash-and-carry for about 1-2p each. Earl Grey might be about 3-4p each for an ordinary purchaser in a supermarket. At most there is a 2p difference, yet they charge 20p more for the tea. Given that all the other over-head costs are exactly the same for both types of tea why is there such a difference?

Clowance

because they can get away with it? i think most places charge more for speciality tea.
I always wonder why ordinary tea in starbucks etc is nearly as dear as fancy coffee? I refuse to go in places like that as I don't drink coffee and refuse to be ripped off for tea.

robinwales

I think I'm close to following your suggestion, and not using such places. We always take a flask of coffee when we go for a walk. We drink it before starting off and it's much more pleasant than sitting in a cafe.

maman

Thanks for pointing out yet another way that we, the customers, are being ripped off.:(


I'd never thought about all other overheads being the same. I can't see why an organisation as large as the National Trust isn't bulk buying Speciality teas anyway. It's hardly as if it comes under local produce! (with apologies to Cornish tea growers).