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Tea with milk
When it comes to the subject of tea with milk, opinions can be very divided! Many tea enthusiasts prefer their tea without any additions like milk or cream. Others – and by no means just the Brits – like to add a splash of milk to their black tea, even though it may cancel out any potential health benefits linked to certain substances.
We believe people should drink their tea however they like it. With milk, cream, sugar or sweetener, a dash of lemon juice or simply as it comes. However, we delve further into the controversial topic of tea with milk in this article, exploring its history and impact on flavour, and give a few tips on which types of tea are suitable and which aren’t.
Why do people put milk in tea?
There are so many answers to this question. Some say it’s to protect the porcelain or to make a tasty hot drink using less expensive tea leaves. However, it’s more likely that many connoisseurs drink tea – just like coffee – with milk because that’s simply how they like it.
And why do the British drink tea with milk? Probably for the same reason, but the British tend to take the taste question more seriously, with two clans having emerged: the MIFs (milk in first) and the TIFs (tea in first). We’re not sure whether it really does make a huge difference, but in the UK this order is highly controversial and often the topic of heated discussion.
How healthy is black tea with milk?
A study conducted by cardiologists at the Charité hospital in Berlin revealed that adding milk to black tea cancels out its health benefits, which come from the tannins in tea. These tannins not only account for the slightly bitter taste but, as antioxidants, also prevent arteriosclerosis by widening the arteries. The milk protein casein hinders this effect when it binds with the tannins, thus neutralising the positive health benefits. However, other studies suggest that milk only delays the absorption of tannins, i.e. it takes longer for the body to metabolise them.
So, if you drink black tea mainly or exclusively for its positive effects on your health, then it’s probably worth thinking about whether you really do need to avoid milk or cream and drink the tea black. And if, for you, tea is all about enjoyment and taste, then you shouldn’t let that stop you adding a dash of milk or cream to your tea.
Tips for making tea
The decision of whether to pour milk into the cup before or after the brewed tea is entirely yours. The British Standards Institute (BSI) recommends first steeping tea for 3 to 5 minutes and then transferring it directly to a cup or teapot.
In contrast, in the East Frisian tea ceremony, tradition dictates that you first place a lump of rock sugar into your cup, then pour over the hot tea and add a swirl of cream poured in a circular motion as stirring is frowned upon by the Frisians.
We recommend using fresh milk with 1.5% or 3.5% fat content and to heat it to room temperature before adding it to the tea. A small milk jug that can accommodate enough milk for a whole teapot does the job perfectly.
Let the tea steep for 2 to 5 minutes, depending on taste and type, and then transfer the brewed tea to a clean glass or porcelain teapot preheated with hot water. Or use a tea egg or infuser so you can easily remove the tea leaves from the pot of brewed tea. Don't forget: the longer the tea steeps, the more intense the aroma becomes and the more tannins are released.
Which types of tea can you mix with milk?
In principle, you can drink any black, non-flavoured tea with milk to enhance the taste. You can even serve green tea with milk, for instance as chai latte enriched with spices and other aromas.
However, you should be more cautious when it comes to flavoured teas and fruit teas: check the packaging to see whether the manufacturer recommends drinking that specific tea with milk. This is because many aromas can taste very different when mixed with tea, and the acids in tea can even cause milk to curdle, as seen with fruit teas. One exception is Earl Grey, a flavoured black tea, which is often drunk in the UK at tea time, preferably with milk.
Tea with milk: suitable types
• Assam
• Ceylon
• Chai
• Earl Grey
• Rooibos and Honeybush
Does tea taste good with milk?
Adding milk does in fact change the taste of tea. Strong black tea, for example, loses its edge when a splash of milk is added: it tastes smoother and more well-rounded. Nevertheless, we don’t mean to imply that tea without milk doesn’t taste good. You just have to look to the Arab world where black tea has been drunk strong with lots of sugar and without milk for thousands of years.
So we recommend that you try both versions with your favourite tea. See what it tastes like without milk and how the taste changes when you add a splash of milk to your cup. This will help you decide on your preference and you might even start drinking specific teas with milk while enjoying others without.
When do people drink tea in the UK?
Teatime is traditionally observed between 4 and 5 pm in Great Britain, and is known as Afternoon Tea or Low Tea (as it was customary to serve tea on a low table in the living room). For a true Brit, however, teatime is anytime!