British Flavours on the Indian Plate

British high tea gets a taste of India as UK food brands find space on Indian shelves

British high tea may be steeped in tradition, but the experience is finding a new audience in India as more British food and beverage brands become accessible to Indian consumers. The UK–India Free Trade Agreement or to give it it’s full name – the Comprehensive Economic and Trade agreements (or CETA) - is bringing two globally renowned food and drink markets closer than ever before. By reducing barriers to trade, lowering tariffs and streamlining the movement of goods, the agreement creates exciting new opportunities for businesses to access customers, expand exports and build lasting commercial partnerships.
 
The UK's food and drink sector is globally recognised for its quality, innovation and heritage. From cutting-edge food manufacturing to sustainable production practices, the UK offers exceptional opportunities for businesses looking to source, invest and collaborate.
 
For Indian businesses, the FTA creates easier access to UK products, expertise and commercial partnerships. Whether you are looking to import premium ingredients, distribute internationally recognised brands or build strategic supply-chain relationships, the UK offers a trusted and dynamic trading environment.
 
With the India-UK FTA opening up greater opportunities for British products, retail outlets such as Food Square are bringing a wider selection of brands to Indian shelves. To showcase some of these products, Food Square recently hosted a British High Tea Masterclass, bringing together British flavours, familiar tea-time favourites and products available at the store. The afternoon was all about tea, tradition and taste. Chef Sushil Multani took guests through a menu inspired by the classic British high tea, with cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches, fruit tarts, and spinach and cheese turnovers making up the spread. The menu offered a simple look at how British ingredients and products can come together in dishes that are easy to enjoy with a cup of tea. The tasting also gave us a chance to explore the shelves at Food Square and discover several British brands now available to Indian consumers.

We spoke to Mr Harjinder Kang, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for South Asia and the British Deputy High Commissioner to Western India, who described this as an exciting time for the food and beverage trade between the two countries. He pointed out that food is more than just a business opportunity. It is also an important part of how people and cultures connect. While international food products usually find their first audience in India’s larger cities, the opportunity could go much further. The Trade Commissioner sees British brands eventually reaching Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, although individual companies will decide where and how they want to expand. For many businesses, he said, distributors and retail partnerships, such as the one with food square, will play an important role in making that happen.

India’s size and diversity also mean that there is no single definition of an Indian consumer. Different regions, cultures and spending patterns create different opportunities for brands. The UK trade team works with businesses to help them understand these differences and identify the markets that make the most sense for them. For British food companies, India is already seen as a major opportunity rather than a market they are only beginning to discover. The FTA, in this sense, creates a framework that can make it easier for businesses from both countries to trade. When it comes to British products, Scotch whisky naturally gets a lot of attention. India is a major market for Scotch, and the FTA could help British whisky brands expand their presence. The opportunity isn’t only at the premium end, either. Greater accessibility could open up Scotch to a wider group of Indian consumers, while giving existing drinkers more options. But whisky isn’t the only category with potential. Seafood, confectionary, biscuits, crackers, crisps, chocolates, soft drinks and other packaged food products were also part of the conversation. And this is where the dialogue gets particularly interesting for food lovers. British products don’t necessarily have to be consumed in a traditional British setting. They can become ingredients in Indian kitchens or be paired with local flavours.
 
Additionally, Indian agricultural and processed products from fresh grapes and honey to major exports like coffee and spices can now have duty?free access into the UK market.There is strong potential for this kind of cultural exchange to work both ways. As Indian consumers become more familiar with British products, there is room for fusion, experimentation and adaptation. Think of the English breakfast meeting an Indian breakfast plate, British cheese finding its way into Indian recipes or Scotch being paired with food beyond the traditional combinations. These possibilities are less focused on replacing Indian food traditions and more on adding new ingredients and ideas to them. The conversation also touched on the larger India-UK relationship, with food and beverage being just one part of it. Education, technology, life sciences and other sectors are also contributing to stronger ties between the two countries. For consumers, however, the most visible part of this relationship may well be on supermarket shelves. A British biscuit, a block of cheese, a jar of a new cooking sauce or a bottle of Scotch can seem like small things. But increased access to such products reflects a much larger shift in how easily food lets culture travel between countries. The British High Tea Masterclass at Food Square was an indication that Indian consumers are likely to have plenty of fun experimenting with new products and making it their own. Events such as these offer a delicious way to see how these products can be used, encouraging consumers to put it on a plate and relish a bite of something new.