If you’ve stopped drinking tea, what’s the closest substitute you’ve found?

[LoganRoy]

I used to drink mainly Earl Grey or English breakfast with a little milk, but even decaf versions upset my stomach now. I like herbal teas, but I miss that feeling of a cup of tea that you get. Have you found anything that comes close?

Have you tried redbush/rooibosh? We get the own brand from Tesco and take it with milk.

I second redbush.

Definitely Rooibos/Redbush as the others have said. I went from a teaholic to disliking it now. Rooibos seems alot more hydrating & refreshing albeit sans the stimulus of regular tea.

I don't like Roibos but green tea is OK, either plain or jasmine.

Rooibos (redbush). After a while, you get used to it and it doesn't taste that different. It looks similar to tea when it has milk in, too, which I found helpful.

I really like the tick tock green tea rooibos, it's still rooibos, but much milder in flavour.

If you can get it, maté tea is lovely, I put a drop of NAS lemon squash in mine. Wouldn't have milk in it though.

Coffee

Rooibos Always seems most similar to me. I like green tea but it makes me nauseous, like normal tea. I also love a tropical Yerba mate one, but it doesn’t taste the same as standard tea.

Currently clutching a cup of redbush tea here. It's tasty and comforting with or without milk.
How about chamomile or mint tea (I have a fennel and mint tea here)
There's just something about the structure of making tea (whatever sort) that is soothing I think.
I hope you find something that doesn't upset you @LoganRoy

Peppermint tea. I stopped drinking coffee because it made my IBS flare up. It took a few days to get used to it but now it's my go to. It also help settle my stomach during any flare ups

David

I’ve never tried rooibos so I’ll definitely try that! Yes I love peppermint but it’s not what I want eg first thing in the morning.

I went off tea a year or two ago, I think it was the milk that upset me. After trying many herbal options, I now drink plain hot water or black coffee, as to be honest plain hot water tastes a lot better than many of the herbals I tried

I have a cup that holds about a pint. It's usually full of redbush, just leave the teabag in, no milk no sugar
.

I have redbush earl grey too. Very nice!

Rooiboos is an excellent substitute - I usually put soy / oat milk in mine and it is like a lighter, more fragrant version of regular milky tea.

Yes definitely try Rooibos. Its from my turf

We drink that more than normal tea. It might take a few mugs to get used to the flavour though.

Just as an aside, its quite the norm here to give babies weak black rooibos tea to settle colic, restlessness etc. So I am sure it will be a lot better for your stomach than normal tea.

It's not hot, but a shot of ginger juice with any other veg juice and a tsp of Apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning gives me the same wake me up zing as a cup of coffee. And it's great for your digestive system

I stopped drinking tea and coffee, even decaf, as I've become very sensitive to caffeine in my old age! I drink loose leaf fruit teas now: red Berry, forest fruits, blood orange, ginger and peach, cherry and rhubarb. I have lots of different ones on the go.

I love Rooibos too, the vanilla Tick tock one is delicious. I really want to try the vanilla chai one but haven’t managed to find it anywhere yet

I remember reading that, in a lab, they kept small frogs alive in a weak solution of rooibos tea .... It has antibacterial properties or summat

Another vote for rooibos. I drink it exactly how I used to have tea: strong, in a mug, with milk. Beautiful. I don't even notice anymore that it's not tea except when I accidentally pick up someone else's cup.

If you want to branch out from peppermint I can recommend peppermint and licorice!

Pukka do a version but Asda's own is 74p and tastes identical:

here

It has a slightly spicy, warming kick

Some lovely ideas here thank you.

Are you sure it's the tea and not the milk? I switched to non dairy milk and now continue to enjoy my morning Earl Grey (couldn't stomach it before).

Not what you asked, but OP are you drinking tea on an empty stomach? If so it might be the tannin that's upsetting you which is why decaf still doesn't work. Could be worth eating something first and then drinking your tea. I have to do this otherwise I get really nauseous.