Anyone suggest a milk to have in tea?

[hedgefire]

Before going vegan, I was an avid tea-drinker. But I've pretty much had to stop, because I can't find a milk that is nice with it! Tea+soya tastes like mud, tea+rice is like drinking dishwater, tea+oat is bearable but doesn't taste like tea at all!
All help appreciated.

[Cherry]

I drink about 5 cups a day

I agree with the dishwater comment, but not the mud one Soya milk does have a slight after taste but I can't even tell anymore. I drink mine with provamel unsweetened soya milk most of the time and it's fine. I used to hate 'so good' soya milk in tea because it was too vanilla-ry but I've got used to that now as well.

If I've forgotten to take soya milk to work then I drink black earl grey tea.

[sandra]

Hi Hedgefire, like Cherry says I think you do eventually get used to the different taste. I use Tesco's soya milk, I like it because it doesn't have an aftertaste.
I love coffee and even before I was vegan I stopped using milk in it, so I got used to drinking it without and now prefer it, as you get the full taste of the coffee. Would you consider drinking tea without 'milk'? You might find you prefer the stronger taste of the tea.

[Tigerlily]

I switched to drinking mine without milk but sugar. I like it more now.

[herbwormwood]

we use Provamel sweetened with calcium and vitamins. The Tetra Pak long life kind. Tasted funny at first but now we are used to it we don't like any other milk in tea.

[thecatspajamas1]

What about coconut milk in Chai tea? Very Indian!

[Tigerlily]

Do they use coconut milk in chai? I thought they used regular milk?

[Maisiepaisie]

I love soya milk in tea. Try different ones as they all taste different. Alpro sweetened is my favourite. The fresh soya milks taste better than the long life ones.

[Swim]

meh I just use rice milk because its the most readily available

[=Sarah=]

my problem is not the taste, as i don't even notice it (and even when i did i enjoyed it!) but, its the matter of the soymilk always curdling when it hits the heat of the tea.. ive just tried a new brand to see if this helps, but.. any suggestions?

[Tigerlily]

Warm up the soy milk to prevent curdling. I put it in the microwave for 20 seconds and it does the trick.

[Marrers]

Even after over 10 years I haven't got used to soya milk (or other vegan milks) in tea. I used to drink it all the time but now only bother when I'm eating something - like tea and cake!

However, I am very impressed with the new Alpro Lite and find this the most like my recollection of cow's milk. Give it a try, it is in the chiller cabinets (not long life). The ordinary has blue on the carton, the Lite has red on the carton.


As for curdling milk I've never had it happen in tea but have in coffee - easily fixed by putting the milk in first!

[Maisiepaisie]

I'm sooo glad I like the taste of soya milk better than cows milk. I've been drinking soya milk for years before I was vegan. Cows milk smells and tastes disgusting. I guess everyones tastes buds are different but I'm grateful mine are the way they are.

[Rndm]

.

[MeTheVegan]

Hi,

I used to enjoy drinking milky tea when I was veggie and recently I've been trying to re-create this vegan style but with no luck. So far I've tried it just with rice milk and another time with oat milk, but both tasted awful.
I'm not the biggest fan of soya milk and I've tried 2 or 3 different kinds.
Does anyone know of a soya that doesn't taste too strong or perhaps a nut milk that makes a nice cup of tea???
I'll try anything! lol

Thanks,
L

[Marrers]

I've had a lot of trouble liking tea since giving up milk. The best result I've had is Alpro Lite (from the chiller cabinet, it's not long-life stuff).

[Poison Ivy]

I'll second the Alpro Light suggestion....it makes a very good cup of tea

[Marrers]

Yes, sorry I mis-spelt it, it's Alpro LIGHT! You can see the product here - I always find it easier to find something when I know what it looks like!
http://www.alprosoya.co.uk/alpro/UK_...ry/milk/3.html

[harpy]

There is a long-life version of the Alpro Light as well - is that less good for tea than the chiller cabinet one, does anyone know? I don't drink tea myself but my other half does.

[Marrers]

I haven't seen one but to be honest I don't bother with the long life stuff now I've discovered this. It does last quite a while though.

[harpy]

I have bought the fresh one as well - just wondered if people thought there was any difference. OH seems to slurp the tea down regardless so I don't know why I'm worrying really

[MeTheVegan]

That's lovely, thanks for all your help.
I shall find Alpro Light and give it a go.
Do you guys know if it's better to put in cup before or after the water, or do you find it makes no difference?

Thanks again.

[herbwormwood]

There is a long-life version of the Alpro Light as well - is that less good for tea than the chiller cabinet one, does anyone know? I don't drink tea myself but my other half does.

We use the long life one for tea, we both like the sweetened with calcium and vitamins version.
It seems to curdle in coffee, at least it did when I had workmen in recently and they asked for coffee.
It is a matter of individual taste which milk substitutes people prefer (I recommend trying as many as you can find and deciding which one suits you), note that different brands hve slightly different tastes and consistencies, but IMO oat milk and rice milk is not suited for traditional English style tea. They are ok on cereals and to cook with.

[absentmindedfan]

Put the milk in first, don't put the water in boiling let it cool for a bit.

I've found oatmilk curdles unless you make a pot of tea, so it must be the heat.

[Marrers]

Put the milk in first, don't put the water in boiling let it cool for a bit

I agree with the above for coffee, this stops it curdling (though I haven't used the Alpro Light in coffee so I don't know if it is any different from long life).

I always put the milk in after when making tea without any problems (Alpro Light or long life), it never curdles.

[HelenSD]

Is there any way to make coffee/tea HOT without the milk curdling?

ive always liked my coffee piping hot.. and although i love the taste of soya coffee i cant be bothered to stir it every 20 seconds.

[Poppet]

EDIT: Uh duh, I gave a really stupid suggestion due to not reading the original post properly.
Must. Open. Eyes.

[Cup'O'Tea]

I find almond milk is nicest in both tea and coffee.

[Stu]

Put the milk in first, don't put the water in boiling let it cool for a bit.

Is there any way to make coffee/tea HOT without the milk curdling?

Yeah, I would say put the milk in first, but I would also add: heat the milk first. I normally put a bit of milk in a mug, then stick it in the microwave for 20 seconds or something. Then stick in the tea bag and hot water and all is well.

[Nishka]

I have drunk tea for ages with Alpro unsweetened.. Its very good.

I have once by mistake put the Alpro sweetened in (which is sweetened or was with apple juice) and I ended up with a very funny cup of tea!! URGH!

[elve]

For years I used dried skim milk in my tea, and I can never wait for drinks to cool, so I got in the habit of only making 2 thirds of a cup of tea, topping it up with cold water from the tap, then adding the dried milk (otherwise it went lumpy ) - this is the best way to stop soy milk curdling too - add it to a warm rather than scalding hot drink. I love the alpro, although it was a bit creamy and rich compared to skim cows milk, but I find you only need a drop - the tea looks very dark but it tastes milky - And I love that creaminess in coffee!

Oh but I tried 'So Good' once..... pass the bucket!

[Pob]

I'm not mad keen on tea with soya milk, either. I tend to drink mostly redbush or chai tea now, though, which both work really well with soya milk

[Fungus]

I've found that soya milk just goes into small 'globules' (<0.7mm approx) when added to coffee .. any ideas why it does that? Cant remember which brand it was though.

[Marrers]

What you describe is the soya milk 'curdling' so your question was already answered higher up on this page Fungus.

Put the milk in first, don't put the water in boiling let it cool for a bit.
I've found oatmilk curdles unless you make a pot of tea, so it must be the heat.

Yeah, I would say put the milk in first, but I would also add: heat the milk first. I normally put a bit of milk in a mug, then stick it in the microwave for 20 seconds or something. Then stick in the tea bag and hot water and all is well.

[bryzee86]

yeah I make the drink in one mug, put the milk in the other, then put the hot liquid into the milk mug.

[flossie]

I reckon almond milk might taste ok, I know it definately works with coffee, I'd imagine it wouldn't be so bad with tea either.

[Aurore]

if it's for a tchai tea, i like to use soy milk (i mix it with water, then heat it in a saucepan until hot). if it's for a tea already made i want to cut with some milk, i'd probably use almond.

[Redveg993]

Just on the subject of oat milk, Oatley is very good, but avoid Oat Supreme like the plague. Its ten different kinds of awful!!

[Fungus]

Just have to watch out with Oatly though, some of them ( IIRC its only the chocolate one but not too sure) have vitamin D in them which is sourced from sheeps wool ..

[Darky_]

Wow I am lucky, I love my cuppa tea with sweetened Soya milk....it's lovely! hehehe :P

I like my tea strong though - well squeezed tea bag and big splash o' milk, 2 small sugars! mmmmmmmm!
And I didn't used to.......Maybe by using soya milk you will get used to it(?).
Or just dunk digestive biscuits till theres no tea left!!! haha.

[bryzee86]

Just have to watch out with Oatly though, some of them ( IIRC its only the chocolate one but not too sure) have vitamin D in them which is sourced from sheeps wool ..

it's any of the enriched ones. If it's got vit. D in, it ain't vegan!

[Cherry]

Yeh D3 isn't vegan as it's derived from lanolin, but D2 is. wikipedia

I'm quite happy with my tea and soya milk (unsweetened alpro soya long life). As Darky says, maybe you'll get used to it?

[Darky_]

.......maybe its the Alpro Soya. I would get a really cheapo nasty soya milk and try that. I get the cheapest sweetened soya and the taste is much more mild!! It's the ones that cost more and are suppose to be more decent that seem to taste stronger.....sometimes. I get that Tescos own sweetened 1litre carton....I like it and am very used to it. I can now even have my porridgey (oat) meals without sugar!

[Kitteh]

I use Vitasoy Rice Milk in my tea/coffee. If I go out to a cafe that's not one that serves rice milk (very rare!) I buy a lil carton of Rice & Rice to take along.

[treehugga]

Bonsoy is particularly good in anything.
I've never had a problem with soy milk curdling, even in the hottest of drinks

[Darky_]

Same here. I have never had a problem with soya curdling.

[Huddy]

I use Vitasoy Rice Milk in my tea/coffee.

Same here. nummy nummy

[gogs67]

.......maybe its the Alpro Soya. I would get a really cheapo nasty soya milk and try that. I get the cheapest sweetened soya and the taste is much more mild!! It's the ones that cost more and are suppose to be more decent that seem to taste stronger.....sometimes. I get that Tescos own sweetened 1litre carton....I like it and am very used to it. I can now even have my porridgey (oat) meals without sugar!

Yep, Tescos own unsweetened is great and cheap (63p a litre i think) or Soya Soleil is good as well and only about 10p dearer. Thankfully SOya milk has come on leaps and bounds in the last 20 years and doesn't taste like chalky water anymore, lol!
Must admit though rice milk or oatly is pretty disgusting!

[chickpea_chica]

I use alpro and I've tried EVERYTHING to stop it curdling in coffee (tea is fine) and I can't do it! HELP!

I've tried:
heating the milk
stirring the coffee into heated milk and then adding warm but not too hot water
stirring coffee into cold water/cold milk and adding hot water
adding the milk last
adding the milk first

[VeganDaze]

Fresh coffee seems to work better than instant. I make the coffee in one mug, then leave it to cool for a bit. Warm the milk a little, then tip the coffee in quick. This sometimes works!
If you have an espresso pot for the hob, use that to make lattes. This nearly always works ok.