Dairy-free milk alternatives for tea
What milk do you take in your tea? Anyone who knows me knows how much I love tea; I can’t get through my day without a few cups a day. Earl Grey is my favourite, but I’m also partial to Jasmine and Oolong.
However, I am lactose intolerant, and drinking cow’s milk can really upset my body. Luckily, there is an excellent range of dairy-free alternatives on the market for me to enjoy with my morning cuppa.
Being lactose intolerant means you get symptoms when you consume lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. The symptoms occur because your body doesn’t produce enough lactase to digest the lactose found in dairy. The symptoms can be unpleasant, so I don’t actually consume cows’ milk anymore. Currently, I am enjoying my tea black. I tried soy, but it wasn’t for me, so until I find a suitable dairy-free alternative for tea, I’ll stick to black.
But what can you add to tea if you don’t drink cows’ milk? These days, there are so many dairy milks that are perfect for tea, and they all come with many health benefits. But what is the best one for you? That all depends on your tastebuds, the tea you drink it with and simply your own preferences. The fact you can purchase dairy-free milk with a milk delivery means you can still get your fix of cow’s milk for you or the family and try out an alternative milk too.
If you want to know more about the best milk alternatives for tea, read on.
Almond Milk
Almond milk is one of the more well-known dairy alternatives and is popular for its nutty taste. However, almond milk has many benefits too. It adds a slightly sweeter taste to your tea, so you can potentially even cut down on sugar. If you like a sweeter hot drink, you can buy almond milk, sweetened or unsweetened, from most supermarkets. It’s also lower in calories for those looking for a low-calorie alternative to cow’s milk. On top of this, almond milk is high in vitamin E and healthy fats and an excellent addition to your diet, whether in tea or not.
However, one drawback people notice with almond milk and hot drinks is that it can appear to curdle and separate when added to hot water, so you might need to experiment to find the right temperature to add it to your drink. While this issue is more prevalent for coffee drinkers, it’s worth knowing when adding to your tea, too!
Oat Milk
Oat milk has a subtle but delicate flavour, meaning that when you add it to tea, unlike some dairy-free alternatives, it doesn’t overwhelm the tea itself. In fact, it may tone down how bitter the tea is depending on the variety you drink.
You can still enjoy oat milk with your preferred sweetener, and it is a little bit thicker, so it won’t water your drink down as the other options can. If you’re not a fan of oats, you might not like the taste or texture of drinking oat milk on its own, but it can be a great addition to your morning cuppa. Plus, it is cholesterol-free, has plenty of fibre and promotes good gut health. Perfect for us lactose-intolerant people.
Soy
Soy milk is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It’s also the closest in protein to cow’s milk, but for me, taste-wise, it is one of those flavours I just couldn’t get on board with, and for most people, it’s a bit like marmite.
It’s one of the more neutral options on the list and has many benefits, but the flavour can really stand out in tea. Again, if you drink different varieties of tea, the taste can change.
Coconut
If you like the flavour of Bounty’s and you want to add more of this nutty goodness to your diet, coconut milk could be the option for you. It can be pretty overpowering when added to tea, but then again, it could be just the right level of sweetness for you. The main issue with coconut milk, though, is its high-calorie content. While it is packed with vitamins and minerals, it’s best to drink sparingly.
Like almond milk, coconut milk can curdle in your tea, so you might need to adjust temperatures, volumes, etc., to find the right blend for you. But it can be perfectly delicious when paired with delicious pastries from a sweet treats delivery with your milk order!
Are you drinking dairy-free alternative milk? It is definitely something I am going to explore more of, so I always have to drink my tea black. What do you recommend I try?