Disruption in shipping in Red Sea has resulted in supply issues among several tea companies and price hikes for chocolate

The simplest pleasure for many an Irish person, a nice hot cuppa and a chocolate biscuit in the evening, could be at risk because of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The simplest pleasure for many an Irish person, a nice hot cuppa and a chocolate biscuit in the evening, could be at risk because of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The disruption in shipping in the Red Sea has resulted in supply issues among several tea companies and price hikes for chocolate.

The Red Sea has seen violence in recent weeks as Iranian-backed Yemeni-based Houthi rebels attack commercial vessels in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes in response to the Israeli assault on Gaza.

It has caused most shipping companies to redirect their route through the Cape of Good Hope.

One tea producer in Belfast has said there are “genuine problems” over supply and demand.

Ross Thompson of Thompson Tea, which produces Pujana, told the BBC it sources some of the tea used in its blend from Kenya, bought at the biggest tea auction in Mombasa each Monday and Tuesday.

The company buys teas from east of the Rift Valley which are then shipped to Belfast.

Mr Thompson said: "Our container ship company can't take the risk with its crew to travel up the Red Sea. It has to take the long way round, the Cape of Good Hope, up to Tangier in Morocco to be shipped.

"It's a very long journey and delays are happening. They're not causing us problems just yet but it's extremely tight. We ran out of teas to blend yesterday."

“We've never been in a situation where we can't blend. We've been tracking this particular vessel which was carrying tea for us and it was supposed to arrive and it did. It's just unusual and a little bit scary for us."

Meanwhile, Cadbury and Hershey have said they are planning price hikes to cover a fresh record-setting surge in coca prices.

The chocolate makers have said they have been left with no alternative but to push up their prices because of the lack of supplies.

Customers are cutting back on their sweets more than last year, according to Hershey and Cadbury maker Mondelez.

Hershey chief executive Michele Buck said last week that "given where cocoa prices are, we will be using every tool in our toolbox, including pricing, as a way to manage the business".

Ireland has yet to see a major shortage in tea supplies with large chain stories such as Tesco still having good supplies with minimal disruption.

However, retailers across the board have been highlighting how they have been impacted by supply issues.

On February 1, Adidas said "exploding" freight rates were driving up costs and shipping delays were causing some delivery issues. Marks & Spencer said it is expecting some slight delays in clothing and home deliveries from disruption to shipping.