I love the smell of coffee, however, I could never get to the point of enjoying a cup.
I’m a tea drinker and I love my tea. I’m guessing you are a tea drinker as well, considering you are here reading my tea blog. 🙂
The question I get asked the most is which one is better for you? Coffee or Tea?
There is some suggestion (but no real beneficial study) that people who drink tea live a calmer life. Tea drinkers are known to practice yoga and meditate. Is this a true statement? Perhaps, but to date, there is no real validity to the suggestion that tea drinkers are calmer.
Let’s have a discussion with some of the facts surrounding both tea and coffee.
Most of the debate around coffee and tea starts with the amount of caffeine each contains. Coffee has always been the bad guy when it comes to caffeine content. Caffeine can keep us awake and alert but, too much caffeine can cause a variety of sicknesses including nausea and headaches.
Tea has a history of healing and is used in traditional medicine for hundreds of years. Tea is also associated with a healing property.
Coffee and Tea have a few things that are similar
- Both are brewed in water
- Some add milk or sweetener if desired
- You can enjoy both hot and cold
- Both have sugary drinks made from them, often known as “fluffy beverages”
One of the main reasons people want to leave coffee is the caffeine. In almost all cases coffee has the largest percentage of caffeine.
If you are looking to switch from coffee to tea and need a good cross-over beverage I suggest Yerba mate.
Transform the usual caffeine crash into a sustained, energy-boosting ritual with our Yerba mate herbal tea leaves, cultivated from Southern Brazil.
another suggestion is an herbal tea made from Chicory root
Enjoy the coffee-like flavor of roasted ramón seeds from the Maya Biosphere Reserve.
Caffeine
While caffeine intake is not all bad there are limitations. There are also other things related to caffeine that make people want to switch. One of those factors is the jittery feeling people get when drinking coffee. This stems from the high caffeine intake in a single cup. When the caffeine starts to leave the body you can get what most people describe as jittery or shaky. Others have complained of headaches and nausea.
Some negative effects of caffeine can be:
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Fast heart rate
On average an eight-ounce cup contains:
- Coffee: 95 mg of caffeine
- Tea: 14-61 mg of caffeine
Both tea and coffee contain caffeine and the good benefits of caffeine are that it can improve athletic performance, lift our moods and increase our mental alertness.
The caffeine in coffee tends to wake us up and get us going. The caffeine in tea calms us and is soothing to our souls.
The difference in the caffeine reaction has to do with two things. The way a beverage is brewed and the parts of the tea or coffee being brewed.
- Coffee is brewed at a higher temperature, brews faster are stronger, and use the entire coffee bean.
- Tea brews and discards the leaf is brewed at lower temperatures and at a slower rate.
Pu-erh is well known to help increase metabolism and aid in weight loss. It is one of the new found old wonders of the tea world.
Antioxidants
Both tea and coffee contain antioxidants. Both coffee and tea have health benefits associated with antioxidants but tea wins again.
Coffee contains a specific antioxidant named CGA or chlorogenic acid which has been shown to slow the growth of some cancers while studied in a lab. Coffee also contains chlorogenic, ferulic, caffeic, and n-coumaric acids. Coffee does contain more antioxidants.
Black teas contain theaflavins, thearubigins, and catechins. With both green and white tea containing more antioxidants. Even with all the studies, a clear winner is not seen. Tea also contains L-theanine a chemical that takes its time using caffeine by the body.
Antioxidants are associated with many health benefits by reducing inflammation. They also lower the risk for chronic diseases and certain cancers have been stopped in this test-tube study.
Some other ways these antioxidants help us are:
Digestion – Depending on where you are at in life the effect that the caffeine in coffee can have on your intestines can be a benefit or hindrance. The caffeine in coffee makes your intestines contract making you, well.. you know. Poop. 🙂 But both coffee and tea help stimulate the acids in your stomach which can cause some discomfort. Try not to drink coffee or tea on an empty stomach. But isn’t it the first thing we do when we wake up?
Mental Cognition -Regular tea drinkers have a lower risk of developing neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Green tea helps boost cognition as well as memory retention and recall. A combination of antioxidants, polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins all benefit mental cognition. Drinking both coffee and tea increases our mental alertness. Drinking both tea and coffee that contain caffeine makes you feel more awake and help to get your day going.
Oral Health – Dark teas will stain your teeth. Coffee does not stain your teeth as much or as fast. The fluoride in both helps prevent cavities. Being rich in antioxidants both tea and coffee can help protect your tea, gums, and oral health.
Heart Health – The benefits of tea with heart health are increasing with each study. Tea can help to lower bad cholesterol (LDL). Some teas have the task to lower high blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to relax. and improving circulation. Tea also assists in preventing plaque from developing in the blood vessels.
Like a scotch or wine 'flight' (or tea sampler) we are introducing our 3 Rooibos Flight to introduce you to a wide range of our custom blended Rooibos. In this package, you get 1/2 oz of our already famous Valerian Root blend of Bedtime Chai the decadent dessert tea blend Tiramisu and one of my all-time favorites, Gingerbread Chai! Buy loose leaf Rooibos tea samples with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
If you are still deciding which one is better here are some pro and con’s to help us better understand the benefits and drawbacks of tea and coffee.
Coffee Pros are:
- Could help keep colon cancer from returning
- May keep Alzheimer’s at bay
- Protect against type II diabetes
- Reduce scarring of the liver
Coffee cons:
- Can raise cholesterol (slightly)
- More acidic
- Lower bone density
- Higher in caffeine
- Can create a higher risk for heart disease
Tea Pros are:
- Lower odds of skin, breast, and prostate cancer
- Stave off Alzheimer’s
- Boosts the immune system
- Lower blood pressure
- Lower cholesterol
- Weight loss
- Protects brain function
- Fights inflammation
- Creates higher bone density
Tea Cons
- Can stain your teeth
- Lowers the level of iron in your blood
A few other teas that can be used in place of coffee or a transition from coffee to tea are:
Adding some spice to your rooibos, or spicing up your chai. Rooibos adds a unique earthy flavor to all your teas, chai especially.
Lemon helps prepare your digestive system for enhanced absorption of the antioxidants and nutrients from the tea. It improves the PH balance of your digestive system helping extract maximum nutrients and antioxidants
Naked Pu-erh stems from Yunnan, China and delivers a deep red infusion with a sweet woodsy aroma and mild earthy finish. This organic Pu-erh tea has slight floral notes and a lingering hint of honeysuckle with each sip. This Yunnan Pu-erh tea is cooked and has been aged for approximately 4-6 years.
At the end of the day, the decision comes down to taste and health benefits. Both coffee and tea have benefits and cons to drinking.
