Your cup of tea should be your cup of tea. It should be what you like. What you want to experience. And have the flavor profile you prefer.
Many people add sweeteners and some type of creamer to reach this goal. There isn’t a magic rule of what to add and how much to add, but there are some basic guidelines to help you decide what direction you want to go.
Keep in mind that if you are drinking herbal tea for the health benefits from the polyphenols and the antioxidants, certain additions might minimize the benefits you seek.
What sweeteners do people put in tea?
Some teas and herbal tisanes have a bitter taste, and you can add whatever is necessary to create the flavor you love. For most people, it is a creamer and some type of sweetener.
When it comes to a sweetener, a general rule of thumb is to use what your taste buds like. If you feel a little unsure, some common choices are sugar, honey, or agave syrup.
Use as much as you like, but do know that the flavor of the tea or herbs could become lost if too much is added.
With that, start with a small amount. You can always add more.
Your choice of sweetener might also have its own taste. Honey and agave syrup have a distinct flavor. Refined sugars have a more neutral flavor profile and will impact the herb flavors less. For example, our Reishi Realms has quite the amplified taste profile when adding a slight sweetener or cream to it.
But if you're new to the world of herbal tea, you may be wondering what you should mix with your tea to enhance the flavor and create a truly unique taste experience.
Should I add milk to my tea?
Adding a splash of milk or non-dairy milk to your herbal tea can create a creamy, comforting texture. It is especially delicious in spicy blends or tea that has a strong, bold flavor that needs balance.
But experiment as different creamers have different flavors and this could significantly impact the presence of the herbal flavors.
Even though the tastes you create might be amazon, adding things like milk and sugar can interfere with the benefits of herbal teas in several ways:
- Milk can bind to the beneficial compounds in the herbs, making them less available for the body to absorb. Studies point to a reduction in polyphenols and antioxidants when milk is added.
- Milk can also change the flavor of the tea, masking the natural taste of the herbs.
- Some herbal teas contain tannins and other compounds that can interact with milk proteins and sugar, which can change the taste, color and some of the beneficial compounds of the tea.
By drinking herbal teas plain or with a little honey, you can taste the natural flavor of the herbs and get the full benefits of the tea. And remember, there isn’t a “right” way, just guidelines that are meant for you to explore.
Citations
[1] Cheynier, Véronique. “Polyphenols in foods are more complex than often thought.” The American journal of clinical nutrition vol. 81,1 Suppl (2005): 223S-229S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/81.1.223S
[2] Prinz, J F, and P W Lucas. “Saliva tannin interactions.” Journal of oral rehabilitation vol. 27,11 (2000): 991-4. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2842.2000.00578.x
[3] Pfeuffer, M., and J. Schrezenmeir. “Addition of Milk Prevents Vascular Protective Effects of Tea.” European Heart Journal, vol. 28, no. 10, 2007, pp. 1265–1266., https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehm092.
[4] Ryan, Lisa, and Sébastien Petit. “Addition of Whole, Semiskimmed, and Skimmed Bovine Milk Reduces the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Black Tea.” Nutrition Research, vol. 30, no. 1, 2010, pp. 14–20., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2009.11.005.