Is there a rule for when you should put milk or lemon in tea? Does type, brand, time of day, etc matter?

Answer 1

The use of condiments in general is a matter of personal taste, and that is the governing rule.

Answer 2

Tea is my drink of choice. I've drank it every which way, with milk, with lemon, with sugar (always), and with honey. With honey is usually when I'm sick and have been drinking it all my life. People around me now, think that with milk is weird but it's personal preference.... the way you grew up liking it. Time of day didn't matter. Brand is preference (that you can taste if you switch), I've come to like more types of tea. Capt. Picard from Star Trek got me into Earl Grey. I've also grew up with a tea called Mat'e. It's drunk out of a gourd with a silver straw with a strainer on the bottom end. I've always sprinkled sugar over the top (most other people spit out the first sip, and yes, it's an aquired taste.) And I would refill the gourd over and over the same tea leaves... I wish my straw would quit getting clogged. Today, I had tea with 3 teaspoons of sugar and a dash of half and half milk. This morning I had Celestal Seasoning tea with just two sugars. It's all just what YOU like and want from the taste. Enjoy the teas whatever you do with it.

Answer 3

I don't know if there's a hard and fast rule, but you'll find some additives more common in some countries or situations than others.
(I guess sugar is always optional for most any kind of tea).

Teas break down into 3 general types (though there are more as sub-types)... and each comes in lots of brands.

Green teas generally don't have as many options for additions as black teas as far as I know (though a handful of fresh mint, along with sugar, is a favorite of mine from days in Morocco). A good jasmine is the only tea (of any type) I can personally drink without sugar .

For black teas, the countries of the U.K. (plus any countries they colonized, etc.) usually have black tea with milk and sugar (all day long, but also often for breaks during the day and special "afternoon teas").
In the U.S. on the other hand, the tradition at least used to be black tea with lemon and sugar (...as mentioned, never mix lemon and milk or you'll have a nasty curdle on your hands).
Nowadays though, with Starbucks, etc., around, "chai" is becoming another black tea that's more well known here. I think technically "chai" is the Indian? word for black tea iself, but here it's starting to be defined as black tea with milk and sugar and certain spices (they can vary, but usually involve ground cardamom --which I love, even without any other spices).

Herb teas don't usually have dairy added to them, but they sometimes have fruit juice added, often in the form of lemon.
I like to make an herb tea fairly strong, then add 1/8 cup or so of other kinds of fruit juice though--usually whatever I have around).

For any type of tea, honey is also often added instead of sugar.

Actually anything could be added to any tea just as long as you like it and it's available --some people may not agree, and look at you strangely or want some type to be served at a particular time or with a particular meal though.


Diane B.

Answer 4

The rule is that you put things like lemon, milk and sugar in your tea to make it taste the way you like it.
In general people put lemon in Chinese tea and milk in Indian tea.
My preference is to put a little sugar in any tea and nothing else.
In the middle east, they often flavor the tea with mint and sugar. In Texas, they drink tea cold with enough sugar to form a super saturated solution!

Answer 5

yes i think its milk can go in anything but if its a dark tea then leave out the lemon. but that really doent help to much if you havent tasted the tea. personally i dont drink lemon in any of my tea i would rather have sugar and milk.

Answer 6

If adding milk, make sure the tea is not boiling hot, otherwise it will curdle. And for the same reason, don't mix milk and lemon.

Answer 7

Milk and lemon dont mix. It causes the milk to curdle.

Answer 8

whatever suits your taste but put the milk in after tea is done dont cook it as it will curdle

Answer 9

Its all a matter of personal taste.....just don't add lemon and milk together.unless that is your personal taste :)

Answer 10

It's actually your preference.

I drink mine either black or with one Sweet 'N Low.
That goes for herb teas as well.
Time of day doesn't really matter anymore.