# "Drinking tea without milk and sugar is not civilised." **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 14, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358 "2003-07-14T12:37:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/1 "2003-07-14T12:37:36Z")
I don’t know where I heard that. I drink Earl Grey tea with nothing in it. But I’ve been known to use milk and sugar. I like it both ways, but I’m not one to use a lot of sugar. (Imagine my surprise the first time I ordered an iced tea in the South! :eek: ) I do like green tea chai with milk and sugar, but since I’m trying to limit my carbohydrates I’ve stopped drinking it that way. So how about it? Milk and sugar? One or the other? Nothing in it? ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/2 "2003-07-14T12:47:28Z")
Occasionally I’ll have it with milk and sugar, but usually it’s just with two slices of lemon and nothing else (any Ceylon tea will do). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/3 "2003-07-14T13:06:32Z")
“Drinking tea without milk and suger isn’t civilized”? Boy, a lot of folks in Japan, China, and similar places are gonna be pissed! I never put milk or cream in my tea. I sometimes drink it plain, and sometimes with sugar. ---
**Author:** ![ladydisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@ladydisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladydisco)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/4 "2003-07-14T13:31:41Z")
Uncivilized? That’s a pretty strong statement. I think tea, in itself, is a classy enough beverage that you could drink it out of a bowl and still maintain your dignity. I think it’s just fine to drink it with milk and sugar. Cream seems kind of heavy for tea, but whatever gets you home, right? FWIW - i use two sweeteners and milk ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/5 "2003-07-14T13:40:04Z")
I should point our that milk will somewhat neutralize the tannic acids in tea, thereby making it more acceptable to a sensitive stomach. ---
**Author:** ![radar\_ralf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@radar\_ralf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/radar_ralf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/6 "2003-07-14T13:48:06Z")
**ladydisco** - yes, ma’am, drinking tea out of a “bowl” is somewhat the norm in many places. At least, the cups lack a handle and resemble a small bowl more than a teacup. I drink “cha” mostly at social functions, but I prefer it with nothing added, so I can enjoy the nuances of the blend. If I put something in it, I figure I might as well drink hot water. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/7 "2003-07-14T13:51:29Z")
Barbarian that I am, I hate milk in tea and never use it. Sugar only if the tea is too strong or bitter. Thin slice of lemon only in Russian Caravan. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Mapp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_mapp/32/369_2.png) [@Miss\_Mapp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Mapp)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/8 "2003-07-14T13:51:49Z")
Barbarian that I am, I hate milk in tea and never use it. Sugar only if the tea is too strong or bitter. Thin slice of lemon only in Russian Caravan. With honey. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/9 "2003-07-14T13:56:32Z")
Broken Orange Pekoe, black, no sugar, no lemon. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/10 "2003-07-14T14:04:36Z")
_Good_ tea should never _need_ milk (or cream) or sugar (or cancer-dust). Perhaps is one is drinking _Lipton’s_ (also known as The Bitter Tea of General Yen) . . . ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/11 "2003-07-14T14:15:08Z")
depends on the tea. I’d consider a cup of English Breakfast **without** milk and at least one sugar to be barbaric and, well, very _“American”_. Garius Imperialist Aggressor ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/12 "2003-07-14T14:42:22Z")
As an Englishman I drink mine with no sugar but a lot of milk (milk in first). But I like milkless China teas too. After al, it did come from China in the first place, so I guess that’s correct too. Earl Grey’s tea should be drunk with only a drop of milk at most and no sugar at all. If you go to the train station in India, you’ll hear people singing “chai chai chai chai chai chai chai!”. Buy a cup of one of the guys chanting it. It’s made with condensed milk, and is sweet as anything and milky as an udder, with some cinnamon and cardamom in it. Delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/13 "2003-07-14T14:43:40Z")
I’m another person who varies what’s in my tea based upon what kind of tea it is. Plain tea? Maybe a small dusting of sugar, if that much. Depends on how bitter it is. Mint tea, or something like Constant Comment (orange flavor)? Sugar: I find that a small amount really draws out the flavors. Strong tea? A bit of milk, a bit of sugar to rebalance the tea. * * * \<\< Attention: the world will end in 3 billion yers (give or take). Please wait for further instructions. \>\> ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/14 "2003-07-14T15:01:43Z")
I never put milk in tea; it never needs it. Occasionally, I use a little sugar, but only if I’ve steeped it too long and it got bitter. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/15 "2003-07-14T15:10:16Z")
> [@](#): > > Uncivilized? That’s a pretty strong statement. I didn’t say it. I don’t remember where it came from, but it was said by a stuffy English gentleman in a film or television show or a book. ---
**Author:** ![brainfizz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/da6949/32.png) [@brainfizz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainfizz)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/16 "2003-07-14T15:43:30Z")
Heathens! If it’s not milk’n’two sugars then it’s not tea! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/17 "2003-07-14T15:51:27Z")
See, now I’ve also heard lots of British people preach that if you put milk and sugar in your tea, you just ruin it. I guess it all depends on the type of tea and how you were raised. My mom was born in Liverpool to a nice Irish Catholic family, and she taught me to put milk and sugar in my tea. Of course, as a kid, it was a half gallon of milk and a bag of sugar per cup, but I’ve since gotten better. So, for most British teas, I tend to put milk and sugar in them. But for Asian teas, I let it go if it’s hot. They do sell bottled tea with milk in Japan as well, so I guess it’s not too uncommon there, either, but again, it may depend on the type of tea. As a remnant of my childhood, though, I still tend to put sugar in some of my Chinese tea (what can I say? I’ve still got the mindset that sugar makes everything better because, well…it does!). ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/18 "2003-07-14T15:51:36Z")
Can anyone explain the significance of the phrase “She’s rather a milk-in-first kind of person?” ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/19 "2003-07-14T16:11:08Z")
Ugh, never ever ever put milk in tea, IMHO. Sugar/honey is only added if the tea is too bitter otherwise (or a small amount to bring out other flavours, such as mint, like **Nightsong** said). Am I the only one that literally gets nauseous after drinking Lipton tea? I swear, I’ve had it a whole 5 times in my life, and each time I feel like I’m going to empty my stomach afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358/20 "2003-07-14T16:15:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrotherCadfael \* > Can anyone explain the significance of the phrase “She’s rather a milk-in-first kind of person?” Here’s the SD mailbag answer: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m971211b.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m971211b.html) So it looks like it’s used to describe people who aren’t upper class - in other words, afraid of breaking the china. I will very occasionally put a small amount of sugar or honey in tea, if it’s too bitter for me - and usually that means I’ve oversteeped it. Otherwise, I don’t add anything at all. Milk in tea is probably nearly unheard of in the US; lemon, honey, or sugar are more common. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drinking-tea-without-milk-and-sugar-is-not-civilised/188358.md?page=2)