Great Milk Alternatives - The Best Dairy-free Cup of Tea

Gone are the days of asking the question, ‘do you take milk?’ What was once a simple question now has so many answers. You only have to look at the milk aisle in your local supermarket and the range of dairy-free alternatives to know there is no one answer.

As a nation of tea drinkers, who are now searching for healthier alternatives to dairy for their everyday diets, we have one question, “do YOU take milk?” And if so, what type?

Is It Time to Ditch Dairy?

The type of milk you have with your tea is often contentious. For many, making the swap to a dairy alternative is easy for cereal, yoghurt, and even baking, but when it comes to a cup of tea, the swap is too hard to handle. If you’re new to using dairy alternatives in your tea, it may take a while to find the right one for your brew.

Types of Dairy Alternatives

Whether for health benefits, environmental reasons, or because you’re allergic, there are many different reasons why people opt for non-dairy alternatives. If you want to avoid cow’s milk, then there is a whole range of options to choose from, including

• Soy milk

• Almond milk

• Oat milk

• Coconut milk

• Cashew milk

• Rice milk

• Hemp milk

• Macadamia milk

• Quinoa milk

Are Dairy Alternatives Sweeter?

It’s worth noting that when it comes to substituting milk, some non-dairy alternatives contain more sugar. In fact, the ingredients in the alternative may be quite different from that of cows' milk.

Often these alternatives are a lot sweeter, and can contain added sugars. If you want to avoid added sugars, it’s best to stick to an unsweetened version, such as unsweetened almond milk. Especially if you need to keep your blood sugars level as part of your diet. Often the sweeter, richer tastes of nut and rice-based milks are just one step too far for the traditional tea lover's palette.

If you already take sugar in your tea, you will want to carefully consider the type of milk alternative you have. Using a sweetened milk and then adding sugar may be too much. Equally, you may find that a sweetened milk means you no longer need that ‘spoonful of sugar’. And, if you’re sweet enough, then a sweetened non-dairy alterative could be a step too far!

“It is not rocket science: if five cups of tea per day equals five heaped spoonfuls of sugar, the health implications for our hearts, teeth, and minds even speak for themselves."

What Dairy Alternative is Best for Tea?

The answer to that question lies in personal preference. It’s an added step in the tea-making process these days. Whilst blend is a preference, and whether you take one lump, or two, the kind of milk you choose is also a consideration now.

Soya milk - made with soybeans or soy protein, is an excellent substitute for cow’s milk thanks to its similar taste and consistency. Lower in calories and fat. Ideal with your morning brew.

Almond milk - made using almonds or almond butter, it has a sweet and nutty flavour, and can be bought unsweetened. It’s lower in calories than most dairy alternatives and is a popular choice for non-dairy drinkers. Perfect with a strong cup of builder's tea!

Oat milk - made from oats and water, it has a creamy and sweet flavour. Great for smoothies and is high in protein and fibre. A little goes a long way.

Coconut milk - made from the water and white coconut flesh, it's a thinner milk that has a very sweet, coconutty taste. It can really enhance the flavour of a cup of earl grey tea!

Lactose Intolerance or Nut Allergy?

If you’re allergic to nuts or have lactose intolerance, you’ll want to consider your milk alternatives carefully. Oat milk makes a good substitute. If you’re lactose intolerant, many milk alternatives are also lactose-free, including oat, almond, and soya.

Why not try your favourite brew and experiment with different dairy-free alternatives? You may just find that your cup of tea just got a whole lot better.