As more and more people choose to ditch the dairy, plant milks are becoming more popular. It’s an exciting time to be vegan, but it can be a little confusing when all you want is a nice cup of tea. But don’t panic! Here’s a handy guide to the best plant milk for tea, so sit back and relax.
Soya Milk:
Tea Score: 7/10
This readily-available option is a strong contender for the ultimate plant milk, and many non-vegans often can’t tell the difference in look or flavour. However, the acid in tea (and coffee) can cause it to split if you’re not careful though, so try warming the milk slightly. We especially recommend Good Hope, the taste is authentic and creamy, and all at a decent price point too!
Great for: With a higher protein content than nut milks, soya is great for everything from baking to a pre-gym smoothie.
Brands to try:
- Simple Truth Soya Milk
- Woolworths Soya Milk Unsweetened
- Rude Health Soya Barista
- Alpro Soya Milk Sweetened
- MILKLAB Soya Milk
- Alpro Soya Unsweetened
Almond Milk:
Tea Score: 5/10
A lower-calorie alternative to soya milk. It doesn’t give tea quite the same colour, and can sometimes split.
Great for: The taste and texture is perfect for cereal. It’s a popular choice with bakers and is packed with nutrients.
Brands to try:
- Buttanut Almond Milk
- Alternative Dairy Co Barista Almond
- Alpro Roasted Almond Unsweetened
- Almond Breeze Original Unsweetened
- Alpro Almond Milk Sweetened
- Nutty Bruce Activated Almond & Coconut
oat milk
Tea Score: 8/10
This has a subtle flavour and you get a lovely cup of tea without worrying about splitting if you choose one designed for hot drinks: make sure you try Oatly Barista.
Great for: An oat milk cappuccino is the best start to a busy day. Also, make sure you check out the Oatly cream for a lower-fat addition to your strawberries this summer!
Brands to try:
- Buttanut
- Oatly
- Alternative Dairy Co Barista Oat
- Minor Figures Oat Milk
- OK JA
- Oh! Oat
Coconut Milk:
Tea Score: 5/10
Coconut milk has a distinctive taste which some traditionalists can’t get on with. I love it with Earl Grey when I fancy something a bit different.
Great for: Coconut milk is very popular in coffee and makes a fantastic rice pudding. If you like creamy cocktails, look no further.
Brands to try:
- MILKLAB
- Nutty Bruce
- Rude Health
- Nature’s Charm
- Kara
- Cocomi
Rice Milk:
Tea Score: 6/10
Popular amongst people with nut and gluten allergies, rice milk is a wonderful substitute that is both creamy and more affordable than nut milks or coconut milks. Rice milk can come in a carton as a liquid, and you can purchase it in a powdered form where you are able to control the consistency of the milk.
Great for: People with allergies to nuts, oats, gluten and lactose. Some people choose rice milk as a substitute to ween babies off of breast milk, as it is a relatively low-risk milk substitute. Or just use it in a bowl of cereal and indulge in its deliciousness!
Brands to try:
- Spar Rice Milk
- Woolworths Organic Rice Milk
- Woolworths Coconut & Rice
- Ruded Health Brown Rice Drink
- Earth & Co Rice Milk
Hazelnut Milk:
Tea Score: 7/10
This can overpower a normal breakfast tea but it complements a chocolatey Assam tea beautifully.
Great for: With a more distinctively nutty flavour than other plant milks, this is an ideal milkshake base: try mixing it with one of Sweet Freedom’s choc-shake syrups.
Brands to try:
- Rude Health Hazelnut Milk
- Yokos Hazelnut Milk
- The Bridge Bio
Cashew Nut Milk:
Tea Score: 6/10
A creamy, nutty milk. Cashew milk can be expensive, so it’s worth waiting until it’s on offer.
Great for: Cashew milk is lower in carbohydrates than many other nut milks, so it’s the best choice for a low-carb diet. Just make sure you choose the unsweetened version, but pick the sweetened option for a scrumptious hot chocolate!
Brands to try:
- Herbivore
- Rude Health
- EcoMil
- Alpro Cashew
- Silk
Hemp Milk:
Tea Score: 7/10
While hemp milk has quite an unusual taste by itself, it makes a creamy cup of tea that won’t split on you, and it’s handy if you’re avoiding nuts and soy.
Great for: A fantastic smoothie base if you’re looking to pack in some serious nutrients.
Brands to try:
- EcoMil
- Pacific
- Good Hemp
Macademia
Tea Score: 8/10
This creamy version of of a dairy-free milk comes from macademia nuts and works perfectly with Matcha Lattes, Golden Milk, and even baked goods like muffins!
Brands to try:
- MILKLAB
- ButtaNut
Barista blends
Tea Score: 9/10
Fancy a café-style coffee? Or maybe running your own coffee shop? These drinks foam perfectly – you won’t know the difference.
- Rude Health
- MILKLAB
- Ok ja
- Oatly Barista
- Soma
Flavoured milks
Sometimes it’s about having the convenience of having a drink straight out of the fridge, and there are vegan options for that too.
- Rude Health Hot Chocolate
- Almond Breeze Vanilla Flavoured Almond
- Chocolate Soya Milk GoodHope
- Almond Breeze Chocolate Sweetened
- Rude Health Chcocolate Hazelnut
- Rude Health Tumeric Latte
Hopefully this has given you some ideas on the best plant milk for tea and maybe even inspired you to try something new! There are plenty of other great dairy-free milks to try, from rice to peanut and even tiger nut, plus an amazing variety of flavoured milks.
