The Ultimate Guide to Adding Milk to Tea
Should you add milk or lemon, or honey to tea? What about black tea vs. green tea vs. pu-erh?
Well, the answers depend. Can and Should are different things. It would help if you considered trying what's popular first to see how you like it and then compare that to adding nothing.
There are no guidelines for tea besides doing what you like, so take our recommendations below as a starting place to experiment to find what works for you.
The most popular tea in the world is black tea.
A purist might prefer 2% milk (considered by many to have the best balance of creaminess of all milk) or another milk of your choice. Add lemon (especially Earl Grey) or other ingredients such as sugar or honey to your tea if you like.
Green Tea
- Try some mint, sugar, lemon, or honey for regular green tea.
- Consider trying it iced with nothing added.
- Please don't add anything to Japanese green teas, as their flavor is too delicate to support additives.
Oolong tea - enjoy as is.
These teas have the most complex and evolving flavors. If you must add something, you either do not like Oolongs or have purchased a low-quality one.
White tea
These being quite delicate, I would not suggest adding anything to them.
Pu-erh tea
Pu-erh Chai is delicious with some milk, but most people still need to add something. Try both and decide which you like.
Iced Tea
Most iced tea tastes great with a dash of lemon and honey. You can also try mint.
Finally, try an unsweet iced tea. You might fall in love with it.
Do what you like!
The tips here are just opinions. The most important thing is to drink what you like.
Marcus is also blogging about tea on my blog.