How much water does it really take to make a cup of tea?

A recent article by Dr John Kazer of The Carbon Trust has highlighted just how much water actually goes into growing and producing the cups of tea that we like to drink.

The staggering figures estimate that 52 litres of water go into producing a cup of tea with milk and two sugars. That encompasses water needed to grow the tea leaves, sugar cane and feedstock eaten by cows. Water used in the manufacturing process for the products and packaging, water used to brew the tea and also to clean the cup.

The article should make people stop and think about the water footprint and consumption that we use as individuals and businesses. It also raises the issue of the ever increasing demand on water resources. By 2025 two thirds of the world’s population could be experiencing water shortages with water demand estimated to have grown 55% by 2050.