Love gestures don’t always arrive in heart-shaped boxes; sometimes they hiss from a kettle. A new Tetley survey suggests Britain’s favourite love gestures are the small, everyday mercies that steam, crunch, or cuddle their way into our lives—proof that romance can be brewed in a mug long before it’s shouted from rooftops.
A nation of silent sweethearts
According to a poll of 2,000 adults, 61% feel we need more thoughtful acts than ever. Nearly two-thirds (62%) insist actions out‑punch words, while a resounding 67% argue that caring signs don’t have to be big or bold to land the knockout blow.
Top 10 tiny triumphs of tenderness
- Making a cuppa when someone’s sad – 62 %
- Sending a thoughtful text – 52 %
- Asking how their day was – 48 %
- Giving a foot rub after work – 30 %
- Sharing your umbrella – 26 %
- Letting a partner drape their legs across you on the sofa – 21 %
- Surrendering your last chip – 19 %
- Handing over the TV remote – 17 %
- Trimming a loved one’s toenails – 10 %
- Offering to pluck their eyebrows (or even pop a spot) – 5 %
Why the kettle beats Cupid’s arrow
Mat Bird, Tetley’s Marketing Director, sees a clear pattern in the stats: “It’s really encouraging to see how simple gestures and quiet acts of kindness still form the true language of British affection and care for each other.
It’s no surprise that putting the kettle on comes so high on the list of gestures; making someone a cup of tea is a simple way to communicate so much; tea has a silent language that shows you care and it’s something we should all do a little bit more of.”
With Tetley’s new TV campaign celebrating “the silent language” of tea, the brand hopes to turn modest brews into daily declarations of devotion.
Reserved lips, generous hands
- 93% believe Brits are naturally buttoned-up about emotions.
- 61% admit they find the words “I love you” awkward to utter.
- On average, we say it only five times a day—but perform 19 caring acts in the same window.
- 76% prefer a thoughtful deed to a verbal flourish.
- Half of adults claim they’ve grown more caring with age, while 35 % suspect younger generations are lagging in the tenderness stakes.
The relationship recipe—quiet, consistent, caffeinated
An overwhelming 98% of respondents credit small, steady kindness as the lifeblood of a happy partnership. Whether it’s 67% favouring modest gestures over grand theatrics or 65% admitting those gestures make them feel more loved, the message is clear: size matters—but smaller often wins.
Takeaway for lovers in a hurry
- Keep the kettle handy.
- Ask genuine questions.
- Offer the last chip (once in a while).
- Remember: tiny love gestures add up faster than verbal confetti.
So the next time you reach for the sugar bowl, recognise you’re wielding a mighty instrument of affection.
In Britain’s unofficial romance handbook, a steaming mug trumps sonnets—and, according to the numbers, it’s a love language we speak about 62% of the time without saying a single word.
