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Making the Call on Tea vs Coffee

December 24th, 2009

For hundreds of years people from countries all across the world have savored it both for its health properties and for its unique flavor. Tea has been a main part of people’s diets in the eastern world as well as of places in the west, like Great Britain. Today it remains a main staple in the modern American diet, at least in part due to the versatility of its flavor properties.

Some teas are treasured because they provide the perfect accompaniment to petit fours and finger sandwiches at a traditional afternoon tea party, while others are enjoyed for the calming and rejuvenation properties they confer after a long workout routine. Some people enjoy a mild cup of Chamomile Tea as part of their relaxing nightly routine, while others savor a good strong cup of Black Tea in the morning as part of a wake up routine.

Tea blends can be purchased in a vast array of flavor blends, all of which are all-natural, and many of which are herbal-based. While they are often enjoyed solely for their taste and other properties, many teas are rich in antioxidants. Teas potent in these extremely important natural substances are able to help shield the body from chemical free-radicals in the atmosphere, and to help it defend itself against the potential onset of many types of cancer. Green tea has long been thought to be one of the most potent in terms of antioxidants, and as a result it has been the subject of much scientific study in recent years. Recent studies have suggested that there may even be a link between the presence of green tea in the Japanese diet and the country’s overall lower rate of cancer.

As scientists continue to discover more of the potential health benefits of drinking tea, they are also beginning to uncover many of the previously unknown health properties of tea’s common competitor, coffee. Recently scientists have found that like many teas, coffee is extremely rich in antioxidants. Studies conducted in the past decade have, moreover, linked daily coffee drinking to a vast array of health benefits, including cancer prevention and memory preservation.

Coffee has long been enjoyed both for its rich, bold flavor and for its potent caffeination properties. People enjoy socializing over a luxurious warm cappuccino, or taking a break from a rigorous day of work to grab a cup of strong espresso. Whether it is enjoyed solely for its unique, smooth flavour or for the morning pick-me-up it provides, coffee has long been a staple in the American diet.

Coffee drinks, like tea, come in a vast array of blends and flavors. And while the two drinks certainly possess many similarities, coffee is unique in that the beans used to brew it will reflect the climate and soil properties of their origins. The same type of coffee bean grown in one particular climate and soil will have a very different taste than that same bean grown somewhere on the other side of the globe.

One of the major differences between coffee and tea is that tea is more often savored by itself or with very few condiments. In contrast, coffee drinks often include many additives, such as a variety of types of milk, sweeteners, or syrups. Coffee drinks are prepared in countless ways. Thus while the coffee bean itself contains many wonderful health properties, certain coffee drinks can be high in fat or calorie content due to other additives. Tea is thus often a healthier bet than many coffee drinks.

While both coffee and tea possess numerous flavor and nutritional benefits, any fan of either will be sure to tell you that the two are quite different in many ways.

Damian Papworth adores making coffee with one cup coffee makers for his quick morning fix. When he has dinner parties though, his 8 cup coffee maker comes in real handy.

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Entry Filed under: Fitness Nutrition