Why I Drink Silver Tea

I make a drink that my mom has dubbed, “silver tea.” That’s really a misnomer because there’s no tea in it. It’s just a combination of hot water and a splash of milk. Might sound gross but I like it, though it was a drink that was borne out of need–or want–for me.

I first created “silver tea” when I was pregnant with my daughter Eva. Prior to the pregnancy, I had become a coffee drinking fiend, probably drinking a good 3 or 4 cups daily. It was actually a sudden and very strong aversion to coffee that first clued me into the fact that I might be pregnant, as even the thought of coffee would give me horrible nausea.

While I could have turned to drinking tea, I wanted to avoid caffeine, and I also didn’t want to keep drinking beverages that could stain my teeth. I felt I had done a good enough job of that already—I won’t ever take the tissue test because I think I’d never smile again!

Yet I just couldn’t give up hot beverages. Part of that is being prone to feeling cold. The other part is ritual, as my husband likes to point out. Ever since I was a teenager, I would have something hot to drink. Not as often as I do now, certainly, but coming from a family still strongly connected to Europe (my dad moved to the United States when he was 12 and my mom when she was 16), the desire for afternoon tea/coffee is probably imprinted in my genes. Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee and cake) were a regular thing with my grandmother when I was growing up. She would make the best plum and apple cakes.

But back to my quest for the perfect beverage. While no one would consider me a “health nut,” I didn’t want to constantly be drinking something with a lot of empty calories like hot chocolate. So, one day I tried just drinking hot water. I didn’t enjoy that at all. Then I tried adding lemon to hot water, which was much better, but its acidity isn’t good for teeth. So, I then decided to just try adding a splash of milk to hot water. I took a sip and found it wasn’t too bad. I actually kind of liked it and so it has become one of my go-to beverages when I want something hot.

And while it may be an odd concoction, there are many things to love about it:

• It’s super easy to make.
• The ingredients are almost always on hand and readily available.
• It’s low in calories so no need to feel guilty about how many cups are consumed.
• There is no caffeine so no concerns about when to drink it.
• It warms your insides just like any other hot beverage.
• It doesn’t stain or corrode the teeth (of course, you still need to regularly brush your teeth).
• Is versatile and can be made vegan by using nut-based and other non-dairy milks instead.

So there you have it. All the reasons I regularly drink—and love—my strange concoction of “silver tea.” If you’re looking for a beverage that meets the aforementioned criteria, don’t hesitate to give “silver tea” a try. You might just like it!