Adding milk to tea has a few benefits, according to the experts. It can help counteract the tannin's astringent or bitter aspects and adds a few calories and nutrients to an otherwise nutritionally bereft beverage.
The answer is that in the 17th and 18th centuries the china cups tea was served in were so delicate they would crack from the heat of the tea. Milk was added to cool the liquid and stop the cups from cracking. This is why, even today, many English people add milk to their cups BEFORE adding the tea!
The answer is: In a formal setting, milk is poured after the tea. You may have heard or read that milk precedes the tea into the cup but this is not the case. You do not put milk in before tea because then you cannot judge the strength of the tea by its color and aroma.
Although typically served with milk, it is also common to drink certain varieties black or with lemon. Sugar is a popular addition to any variety. Everyday tea, such as English breakfast tea, served in a mug with milk and sugar is a popular combination.
Clearly, the milky preference is a worldwide hit and the reason why people add milk into tea likely just comes down to taste. In fact, there's some science behind it too! Even when steeped correctly, tea can often taste bitter or dry, a sensation better known as astringency.
It became popular during British colonial rule when the British started importing tea. So while Hongkongers were already colossal tea drinkers, the art of tea drinking became even more popular during colonial rule. The Asian people put a twist to the British version by adding milk and sometimes sugar.
The idea of adding dairy to your cuppa is thought to have first originated on the Himalayan foothills of Tibet. Tibetans would traditionally add yak's butter to their brew as a means of packing extra calories into their diets – vital during cold winters in the mountains.
Tea latte –Tea (can be any type of tea) with steamed or frothed milk added. It can be sweetened or unsweetened. Boba Tea – Or bubble tea, a milk tea from Taiwan with added tapioca pearls popular around the world.
A massive 85% of British Earl Grey and English breakfast tea drinkers have their tea with milk. Brits are definitely in the minority here, with the next milkiest country being Sweden, where just 32% take their Earl Grey/English breakfast with milk.
The country that drinks the most Tea in the world is Turkey, followed by Ireland, the UK, Iran, Russia, Morocco, New Zealand, Chile, Egypt and Poland. You can visit these places and find out their respective Tea cultures for yourself, or you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy a brew at home.
A stronger tea will always balance out the milk better than a weaker tea. Furthermore, creamer milks will go better with teas. Thus, whole dairy milk is your best bet. If you're dairy free then you should opt for either almond or cashew milk which replicates the creaminess of whole dairy milk.
When you put milk into infusing tea you lower the temperature of the water so a proper infusion can't take place. To get the best of your brew in a mug, always make the tea first to your taste and strength and the milk after.”
The irony is that pouring cold milk into very hot tea allows the first amount of milk to absorb a lot of heat very quickly. This denatures the proteins in the milk and changes the flavour. It also changes the properties of the milk creating a skin on top of the tea.
There are no set rules on how much milk you should add to tea, it's all down to personal preference and the variety of tea being made.
What Kind of Milk do British Put in Tea? Usually, and in the past it's been whole milk that Brits use in their tea. In the US, 2% milk is passable, but don't offer me 1% or even talk to me about skim milk. The cream that's in whole milk adds a lot to the flavor of a cuppa.
The Brits' habit of putting milk in tea extends all the way back to the 18th century, from the time when tea was brewed in pots. Tea was a big deal at the time, and people tended to drink it out of china cups.
Research suggests adding milk reduces its beneficial impact. That's because milk contains proteins and fats that reduce the effectiveness of antioxidants, which can improve heart and gut health. Antioxidants can also slow the ageing process. So if it's health benefits you want from tea, drink it black.”
The proof is in the numbers: the British drink 100 million cups of tea every day. That's almost 36 billion cups per year, divided amongst British men, women, and children (that's right, they start them young over there).
Containers for tea have been found in tombs dating from the Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) but it was under the Tang dynasty (618-906 AD), that tea became firmly established as the national drink of China.
In 1680 Madame de la Sabliere, served tea with milk at her famous Paris salon. She is traditionally ascribed to introducing the custom to Europe. It is also thought that the poor quality in tea had to be softened with the flavor of milk just to make it palpable.
The Brits prefer robust black teas like Earl Grey or English Breakfast. And you may use either tea bags or loose tea; both are perfectly acceptable. If you choose loose tea, you'll need a strainer for your cup or teapot.
Global consumption of fluid milk 2022, by country
In 2022, India consumed the most cow milk worldwide, drinking about 85 million metric tons. The next largest consumption of milk was in the European Union, at 23.8 million metric tons.
Turkey had the highest rate of tea drinkers in 2022, with nine in ten people saying that they regularly drink the hot beverage. Kenya, a major producer and exporter of tea, also ranked highly in the 56 countries analyzed, with 83 percent of its respondents saying they regularly drink tea.