Uses

The addition of milk to tea results in a less astringent, less bitter flavor. This is because milk binds to some of the bitter chemical compounds found in tea while covering up some of the flavors of the tea. Some teas, such as strong black tea and Assam teas from India, are almost always served with milk to reduce the bitterness. Assam milk tea also makes a regular appearance as a British afternoon tea.

However, some of the tea's bitter compounds are very beneficial to health, so if you're drinking tea for health reasons, tea without milk is a better choice.