Do you put milk in green tea?

Adding milk to coffee and other types of tea is a common and enjoyed practice, so it’s not unreasonable to ask if you put milk in green tea. Opinion is fairly divided on whether you should put milk in green tea, it will ultimately come down to your taste preferences and how you enjoy your tea. However, in this article we’ll be exploring both sides of the debate to help you decide whether adding milk to your green tea is a yes or no.

Firstly, what is green tea?

Most types of tea on the market comes from the same place; the camellia sinensis plant. Green tea is one of these and is so named because of the emerald, green colour that is formed when brewing the tea leaves unprocessed and unfermented. The origins of the tea go as far back as 5,000 years with it being most commonly enjoyed and grown in East Asia where its health benefits are highly valued, which leads us nicely onto the next question.

What are the benefits of green tea?

High in protective polyphenols

Polyphenols are compounds that protect the body from disease and make a key contribution to a healthy and balanced diet. These antioxidants are present in a number of fruit, vegetables, and other unprocessed foods. Green tea has several health benefits and a lot of them can be attributed to the fact that it is mostly unprocessed and full of these compounds. The main bioactive compounds found are flavonoids and the most potent is catechins and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

Can improve brain function

Green tea contains natural stimulants, including caffeine, which even though isn’t as high as coffee, could still help to maintain alertness and focus. Also, green tea is a source of L-theanine, an amino acid which has a relaxing effect on the mind and body. It creates this effect by increasing mood-enhancing brain chemicals like GABA, dopamine, and serotonin. The advantages of polyphenols might also help delay the effects of aging on the brain.

May potentially boost fat burning

There has been research suggesting green tea might increase metabolic rate and fat burning which helps with weight loss. This is thought to be because of the natural thermogenic elements provided by caffeine, and by the plant compounds including catechins.

Support blood sugar control

Certain studies have noted that green tea could improve insulin sensitivity and therefore have a positive effect on controlling blood sugar for those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Reduce the risk of heart disease

Research into the topic has indicated that green tea is a beneficial beverage for helping to lower the risk of heart and cardiovascular disease and other related conditions such as a stroke. One way it can do this is with its useful effects on cholesterol management.

Can you put milk in green tea?

Yes, you can certainly add milk to green tea if that’s your preference. However, if you’re drinking the tea for its benefits, you might find that some of those benefits are altered slightly, as well as the taste being a bit different. For example, there could be a reduced benefit of catechins, which as we’ve seen is good for the heart and blood vessels. So, this brings us onto a different question…

Should you put milk in green tea?

There are a lot of tea sommeliers and passionate tea enthusiasts out there that would cringe at just the thought of putting milk in green tea and they wouldn’t be completely out of line for feeling so strongly about it. There are a few different reasons why adding milk isn’t recommended by many “tea experts” the main one being how much it changes the taste.

By contrast to black tea, green tea normally has a more earthy, vegetal flavour that some people think doesn’t lend itself well to adding milk or cream. As previously mentioned, adding milk to green tea can reduce the effectiveness of the health benefits associated with the brew, which is another key reason why fans of it are so against milk.

Conclusion

Generally, you’ll be able to enjoy more of the benefits of green tea when you don’t put milk in it, so it would be better if you didn’t and drank it naturally. However, not everyone likes the taste of green tea as it comes so there’s no harm in drinking green tea with milk if you feel you need to. If you don’t want to dilute the benefits of the tea too much you could always use a cow’s milk alternative like soy milk or almond milk, which supposedly work better with green tea.

If you’re looking to buy green tea, Pumphrey’s Coffee have got you covered. We have multiple different types of green tea to suit your taste preferences exactly, whether you’re just getting started or a die-hard green tea lover. Find your perfect tea today and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.