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Vegan

Join Mumsnet's vegan community and discuss everything related to the vegan diet.

Getting used to tea without milk

32 replies

BB052028 · 24/02/2026 11:59

Any tips? This is my biggest stumbling block to becoming vegan as I absolutely love English breakfast tea with milk. I've tried some of the vegan alternatives and am not keen on any of them.

Currently drinking a cup of early grey with a slice of lemon, which is quite nice.

OP posts:
MamaBobo · 24/02/2026 12:07

I’m not vegan but I have drunk tea without milk for more than 40 years. I didn’t really like milk as a child so started then.

I’d say good tea is important, higher quality teas have a much better flavour and are likely to be less tannic and bitter. Decent Darjeeling is milder than Assam and Ceylon (the basis of a lot of traditional English Breakfast style teas) and is a good starter as a black tea. It’s not perfumed like Earl Grey so has a bit more of a tea flavour. Loose leaf teas are much higher quality than bags. Use an in cup diffuser to make it…much less messy than a pot! Once your tastebuds start to adapt to tea without milk you’ll find more and more black teas become more palatable and you’ll taste far more of the tea flavour.

DH started to drink his tea without milk when we moved in together and now enjoys tea (and a variety of teas) far more than he did with milk. I hope you find something you enjoy!

Hadalifeonce · 24/02/2026 12:08

I drink white tea, or green tea. Both are much less bitter than breakfast tea

thistimelastweek · 24/02/2026 12:10

I enjoy very weak tea without milk.

Octavia64 · 24/02/2026 12:12

Lemon.

also try peppermint tea, camomile tea, green tea.

there are a lot of teas that are not traditionally drunk with milk.

Shitstix · 24/02/2026 12:12

thistimelastweek · 24/02/2026 12:10

I enjoy very weak tea without milk.

Same.

ProfessorBinturong · 24/02/2026 12:47

You say you've tried some alternatives. Does that include oat milk? Many people seem to find that best in hot drinks.

DoverWight · 24/02/2026 12:49

Can also try chai as the spices make it very palatable without milk.

Pancakesbythedozen · 24/02/2026 12:53

Over the past nearly 3 years I have trialed every bloody oat milk going.
Aldi is by far the nicest. So give it a go before you give up op!!

Shallwemarry · 24/02/2026 13:02

Shitstix · 24/02/2026 12:12

Same.

Same same! Started when we went to Sri Lanka on hols as milk far from the norm over there and now still enjoy a weak, black breakfast tea 😋 good quality - not "builders" type - is important, and I like a bit of fresh ginger in mine 🍠

Sprangle · 24/02/2026 13:16

ProfessorBinturong · 24/02/2026 12:47

You say you've tried some alternatives. Does that include oat milk? Many people seem to find that best in hot drinks.

I have oat milk in my tea too. It took a bit of getting used to, but you adapt quite quickly, and IMO it's by far the best milk alternative for tea. Oh the other hand I could never get used to drinking tea black!

Dartmoorcheffy · 24/02/2026 13:18

I use the Alpro My Cuppa. I honestly cannot taste any difference to real milk. I can have it with cereal and it tastes just like milk

Shallwemarry · 24/02/2026 13:21

Oo should have said but when I'm having any hot bev with milk it's rude health almond 😊 Amazon subscription £9 for 6 at the mo 👍

TomNook21 · 24/02/2026 16:12

I'm dairy intolerant so no milk for me. I cannot abide tea without a milk substitute so take oat or soya. Otherwise, it feels like it's stripping the enamel off my teeth 🙈

Appaloosa2000 · 24/02/2026 16:15

It takes about a month to get used to the new milks .keep trying or have it black if you really don’t like them. But if you persist it will start tasting normal.. Maybe try lemon in regular tea.

HarryVanderspeigle · 24/02/2026 16:29

I prefer spiced teas without milk. They are available lots of places before Christmas, but the internet will have lots of options.

CinnamonStar · 24/02/2026 16:51

I have always taken my tea black - I recommend a Brita water filter jug, loose leaf tea, and something a bit milder then a breakfast blend to start off with - maybe try a “gold” blend tea.

Use a white or glass cup, so you can see the colour well. It should look deep-reddish coloured and clear, rather than dark brown and murky.

HoppityBun · 24/02/2026 16:56

I used to hate plant milk in tea and coffee. I can’t remember how it changed but now I loathe mammal milk in tea and coffee.

After a while, you realise what a strong taste cow or goat milk has.

Although my reasons for using plant milk are health and animal welfare, I genuinely don’t want anything else now.

Highstool · 24/02/2026 16:57

I found no milk was much better than the alternative milks too. For me, you need to make it much weaker than you would if adding milk.

Dliplop · 24/02/2026 17:00

Appaloosa2000 · 24/02/2026 16:15

It takes about a month to get used to the new milks .keep trying or have it black if you really don’t like them. But if you persist it will start tasting normal.. Maybe try lemon in regular tea.

I agree- I suggest the same for gf alternatives. Go without for a bit and then try them out.

OP, I like soy sometimes but usually barista oat milks since they have a bit more substance to them

TofuTuesday · 24/02/2026 17:15

Dartmoorcheffy · 24/02/2026 13:18

I use the Alpro My Cuppa. I honestly cannot taste any difference to real milk. I can have it with cereal and it tastes just like milk

I agree, this stuff is great in tea. Sadly I can’t drink tea anymore so am stuck with herbal stuff I’m forcing myself to enjoy.

ExquisiteSocialSkills · 24/02/2026 17:16

ProfessorBinturong · 24/02/2026 12:47

You say you've tried some alternatives. Does that include oat milk? Many people seem to find that best in hot drinks.

Oatmilkbis quite good. They vary so try a few different brands.

Elektra1 · 24/02/2026 17:19

I don’t like milk so have always had tea without milk. I use loose leaf tea, which makes a vastly superior cup than teabags. Earl Grey is nice but I drink more Darjeeling as an “all times of day” tea. For some reason Earl Grey is an afternoon tea, for me.

Crumpypumpy · 24/02/2026 17:44

I use Plenish oat milk and won’t go back to dairy! It needs heavy shaking but I think it tastes great. I get the calcium enriched one. I also drink Earl Grey black tea- tastes great!

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2026 18:00

I like milk in my tea, but recently after I’d been poorly I didn’t fancy dairy. Fortunately I had some really lovely green tea - Waitrose Jasmine Rose green tea, brewed per the packet recommendations.

SylvanMoon · 24/02/2026 23:09

Moving from vegetarian to vegan, finding a substitute for whole cream milk in coffee was also my last step (apart from cheese, and I'm still looking for the holy vegan grail for that one). I approached trying all the different plant milks sort of methodically, keeping a rating chart for each one, and eventually finding a combination of milks that worked for my palate (I ended up with half Oatley and half Alpro almond, both barista versions). That's still my combo, but I'll happily drink other plant milks if they're not available. I don't think you need to give up your milky tea, but might need to persevere a bit more to find what works for you. I've seen, but not tried, Glebe Farm PureOaty Tea-riffic Oat Drink which is supposed to work specifically in tea. If this isn't one you've already tried, you might want to give it a go.