Many countries add milk to their tea, notably the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Ireland, and Hong Kong, with traditions like masala chai, teh tarik, and Hong Kong-style milk tea, while Asian cultures like Taiwan (bubble tea) and Japan (Hokkaido milk tea) also feature popular milky variations, often with origins in historical needs for nutrition or to cool strong brews.
Milk tea is well-known in many countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, and most prominently in China, and other Asian countries. The recipes for milk tea mainly consist of a tea base, milk, added sugar, and other added ingredients such as fruits, and creamer.
The idea of adding dairy to your cuppa is thought to have first originated on the Himalayan foothills of Tibet. Tibetans would traditionally add yak's butter to their brew as a means of packing extra calories into their diets – vital during cold winters in the mountains.
In Northern Ireland and in the rest of the United Kingdom tea drinking blends and preferences vary. Although typically served with milk, it is also common to drink certain varieties black or with lemon. Sugar is a popular addition to any variety.
Indians, whose tea culture is much younger than the Chinese, and is very strongly influenced by the British, when making Masala Chai also use half milk, half water to brew the tea. Some say that adding the milk to the cup first before adding the tea can insulate the china cup from thermal shock, and prevent cracking.
Looking at Russia and the middle east, you'll find nations of tea lovers who like their black teas without milk, sweet and strong. They like a deep red intensity of colour in their cups. This is the way to drink tea in Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Russia and eastern Europe.
Different companies began pushing tea bags and they steadily grew in popularity. Nowadays, having a brew with a teabag and adding milk is customary in almost every household in the UK.
Gen Z isn't drinking as much milk due to health concerns (lactose intolerance, acne), ethical/environmental worries about dairy farming, the influence of social media promoting alternatives, increased awareness of dairy's downsides, and a desire for healthier, more personalized options like plant-based milks, though they still enjoy other dairy products like cheese and yogurt. They question traditional health advice and are swayed by peer culture and eco-consciousness, leading them toward alternatives for taste, values, and lifestyle fit.
This is a list of countries ordered by annual per capita consumption of tea, as of 2016. Tea consumption per country Rize çayı, the traditional Turkish black tea. As of 2025, Turkey still leads the global consumption.
Serving. Tea in the Arab world is usually a strong dark mix, similar to the so-called "breakfast tea" served in other parts of the world. Often brewed with sugar and served in long glasses, it can also be made with mint or cardamom, or with a dash of milk. In Yemen, black tea is brewed in water and milk.
Global consumption of fluid milk 2024, by country
In 2024, India consumed the most cow milk worldwide, drinking 89 million metric tons. The next largest consumption of milk was in the European Union, at 23.6 million metric tons.
The British didn't start drinking tea until the 17th century, whereas dairy may have been added to tea in Tibet as early as 781, when tea was introduced to Mongolia from China. In India, milk is an integral part of masala chai, and its history may have started thousands of years ago as an Ayurvedic beverage.
Hokkaido milk tea is a luxurious Japanese milk tea known for its creamy texture and rich flavor, smooth taste, and signature buttery finish. This popular tea drink is not just any beverage; Hokkaido milk tea is made with a meticulous selection of ingredients, particularly the famed milk from the Hokkaido region.
Turkey: The Reigning Champion of Tea Consumption
Tea is an integral part of Turkish culture.
Adding milk to tea has a few benefits, according to the experts. It can help counteract the tannin's astringent or bitter aspects and adds a few calories and nutrients to an otherwise nutritionally bereft beverage.
There's no single "World No. 1 Tea" as it depends on metrics (production, consumption, quality), but black tea is most consumed globally, while China leads in production, followed by India. Highly revered teas include China's Da Hong Pao ("King of Teas"), India's Darjeeling, and Turkey's high per capita consumption.
Ahmet goes on to explain that the reason Turkish tea is so special is because the colder climate along the coast sees plants covered in snow in the winter. This frosting acts as a natural barrier to diseases, meaning the plants don't need chemical protection, lending the leaves a natural, strong flavour.
Boys are more likely to drink milk than girls, who in turn are more likely to drink a juice (Park & Bae, 1999). However, relatively little is known about the effect of gender differences on beverage consumption patterns in elementary school children.
In fact, many people claim that their health only improved after they cut milk from their lives. And it's not just an improvement in digestion that people have noticed; many say that their acne, sinus allergies, chronic fatigue, brain fog, and general inflammation were vastly improved after saying “no” to milk.
Gen Z And The Sober Curious Movement
One study found that 34% of people in the Gen Z age group are making an effort to drink less, while 45% say they've never had an alcoholic drink in their lives. In contrast, only 36% of the millennial generation admit to never experimenting with alcohol.
To prevent curdling, always warm the milk gently before adding it to the tea. Avoid pouring cold milk directly into very hot tea, and use fresh milk as older milk is more prone to curdling.
The country that drinks the most Tea in the world is Turkey, followed by Ireland, the UK, Iran, Russia, Morocco, New Zealand, Chile, Egypt and Poland. You can visit these places and find out their respective Tea cultures for yourself, or you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy a brew at home.
Some people in Britain and Australasia refer to their main evening meal as "tea" rather than "dinner" or "supper", generally those in the lower-middle or working classes. The use of "tea" also varies by social class based on social class, and "tea" can also refer to a light meal or a snack.