Tiffin Tea Rooms in Alresford sells the nations best cup of tea

Whatever you call it, tea is by far the most popular drink in Britain with more than 165 million cups being drunk every day.

Now a Hampshire couple are lifting their bone china cups in celebration after winning a national award for some of the tastiest tea in the UK.

Alresford’s Tiffin Tearoom has been given an “Award of Excellence” by the UK Tea Council’s inspectors after they secretly visited the business and gave their brews the thumbs up.

The Top Tea Place 2010 award, which is seen as the Michelin star of the tea world, will now be displayed with pride by owners Sharon and Chris Pendlebury.

Sharon, who has run the shop with her husband for six years, said: “It’s nice to get recognition for all the hard work we have put in.

Knowing someone has had a nice cup of tea here makes my day and to get an award for doing that is the icing on the cake.”

The shop on West Street sells 24 different types of tea including green tea with mango, Chinese raspberry and wild Japanese Cherry.

The Tea Guild members were assessed on the quality and selection of teas offered, plus flavour, strength and temperature.

In addition, the judges also reviewed the care, knowledge of tea and attentiveness of staff, the overall ambience and the standard and presentation of the food.

Irene Gorman, Head of The Tea Guild, said: “This Award of Excellence to Tiffin Tearooms was presented in recognition of consistently high standards of tea making and customer service, evident in the care and attention to detail with which afternoon tea was prepared and served.”

The ultimate winner of Top Tea Place 2010 is The Black Swan Tea Room, Helmsley, North Yorkshire.