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.
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.
History of adding milk to tea. Many assume that adding milk to tea started in England, but that's not actually the case. The British didn't start drinking tea until the 17th century, whereas dairy may have been added to tea in Tibet as early as 781, when tea was introduced to Mongolia from China.
Given its delicacy, the porcelain would often crack due to the high water temperature. Therefore, people started adding milk to cool down the cup. Another popular theory is that milk was used to balance the natural bitterness of tea, giving it a smoother, more delicate flavour.
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 Irish are noted for drinking their tea strong and with lots of milk. Traditionally milk was poured into tea cups first to prevent the hot tea from cracking fine china cups.
Some sources credit the French with being the first to add milk to tea. It was also a regular drink of the court and King Louis XIV, the Sun King, who was known for drinking copious amounts of tea. It quickly became very popular among the aristocracy and was associated with royalty, leisure, and wealth.
However, it got me thinking—why put milk in tea, anyway? Turns out, it's a very British thing to do.
Do Americans not put milk in their tea? It's not common, although it's not unheard of either. Most Americans drink the majority of their tea iced. Milk in iced tea is so rare as to be virtually unknown, and most iced tea drinkers would be horrified if you suggested it.
It originated in Hong Kong, and may have its origins in the introduction of the practice of drinking afternoon tea with milk and sugar under British colonial rule. When using evaporated milk, sugar is often added to sweeten the tea.
In general, the British custom is to pour milk in your cup first, then tea. Whereas, the European custom is to pour the hot tea in first, then milk.
The taste of chai (sweet and milky) helps disguise the stronger and more bitter flavours of some of the medicinal additives, while others such as cardamom, clove and ginger add a pleasing flavour and aroma to the tea along with health benefits. For many years, documentation of tea in India was lost in history.
Milk tea, also know as boba or bubble tea, originated in Taiwan in the 1980's by the owners of Chin Shui Tang tea house in Taichung. The founder, Liu Han-Chieh, first came up with the idea of serving iced classic Chinese tea in the early 1980's after visiting Japan where he had tried coffee served cold.
Tea lattes are typically made using tea and steamed, frothed milk, and are similar to coffee-based lattes. Popular versions of tea lattes include matcha lattes, chai lattes, and London Fog lattes made using Earl Grey tea.
Tea is often thought of as Britain's national drink. But how we enjoy it varies from person to person – from no milk, three sugars, to a traditional builders' tea.
Milk proteins may interfere with tea compounds, but research is mixed. Given that both tea and milk contain health-promoting compounds and nutrients, combing the two may seem beneficial.
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.
The British have their own way of doing things (like driving on the opposite side of the road compared to Americans), and that includes how they prepare their tea. 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.
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.
Basically it comes down to where you were born and the customs in the house that you were brought up with which determine whether you will have milk with your tea or not. Chinese typically do not drink green tea in any variety with milk although there seems to be no reason not to.
A recent YouGov International Omnibus has revealed that Germans are the most 'tea-loving' people in Europe, but they prefer a fruit tea to a milky cup prominent in Britain.
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.”
A typical style of drinking tea in Russia is brewing tea using traditional tea thing "Samovar", and add jam in their tea. Adding milk in the tea is not very popular, however, there is one region in Russia where people add butter and milk in their tea.
If making a pot, first warm the pot by adding and then pouring out a little boiling water. Fix it the way you like it by adding sugar and/or milk. Generally, Scottish Teas are best with some milk and sugar. Although different viewpoints exist, Brodies recommends adding milk last.
Americans typically drink their Earl Grey with milk and sugar, but Chatterton prefers it the British way — with lemon and sugar. "Milk has a tendency to do strange things to black tea," he says. "It dulls the flavor a bit.