Tea vs Coffee: Is One Healthier than the Other?

Tea vs Coffee: Which one is healthier?

For many of us, one of the very first things we do in the morning is reach for our favourite brew- which leads us to ask; which should you drink, tea or coffee?

While it ultimately depends on personal taste, here at The Tea Makers of London we are firm believers in the benefits of tea, which is why we offer premium, ethically sourced tea in a range of high-quality flavours.

We’ll compare the benefits of black tea, green tea, matcha and herbal tea in comparison to coffee. As you can already see, there’s such great variety when it comes to tea, so there’s something for everyone!

History of Tea vs Coffee

Both coffee and tea rose to popularity in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, as they became more common and affordable. The question of coffee or tea is often cultural; in Britain, tea is more popular, whereas in other countries like Italy and France, coffee is preferred.

Recently, however, many are now switching to tea for health reasons. Green Tea particularly has risen in popularity over the last few years due to this, as many people are looking for little ways to make their lives healthier. Matcha has burst onto the scene in the last decade and can now be found in many cafés and restaurants (although it is just as easy to make at home), and interest in premium Black Tea continues to grow and grow.

Tea vs Coffee: What are the health benefits?

While tea and coffee share many of the same attributes, there are some key advantages tea has when it comes to health benefits.

Caffeine Content

So, how much cafffeine is there in tea vs coffee?

Black Coffee has approximately 95mg of caffeine per 100ml.
Black Tea has approximately 44-55mg of caffeine per 100ml.
Green Tea has approximately 27-37mg of caffeine per 100ml.
Matcha has approximately 70mg of caffeine per 100ml.
Herbal tea is 100% caffeine free.

Of all the options, coffee has the greatest amount of caffeine. Having such a large quantities of caffeine in your system on a regular basis can make your body react negatively as the chemical subsides, leading to a slump in energy and increased tiredness. This can contribute to a physical dependency on caffeine, or an addiction.

Due to the lower caffeine levels in tea, the risk of such high and lows is reduced. If you want to keep your energy levels consistent throughout the day and avoid tiredness and caffeine cravings, tea is a better option.

There are also herbal teas, which contain no caffeine whatsoever, making them an excellent option for those who fancy a hot brew later in the day without impacting their sleep.

Energy levels

Caffeine is a naturally occurring insecticide, and it is present in both tea and coffee plants. Caffeine can be great at giving us energy, but it can also contribute to anxiety and poor sleep quality.

Tea, unlike coffee, contains a chemical known as L-Theanine. Studies have shown a link between L-theanine and decreased levels of stress and anxiety, helping to combat some of the side effects of caffeine.

With tea, you can therefore enjoy the benefits of a caffeinated brew with a reduced risk of side effects.

Weight Loss Benefits

Drinking tea can be beneficial for those trying to lose weight.

Tea is naturally low in calories (very nearly zero calorie), but it also contains catechins (what are they) which have been shown to help increase your metabolic rate and help the body to burn fat.

For those who prefer to curb the natural bitterness of both brews with the addition of milk, tea typically requires less milk than coffee to reduce its intensity, keeping it lower calorie, especially in comparison to many of the lattes and cappuccinos sold in cafes.

How do Tea Flavours Compare with Coffee?

One of the major advantages that tea also has is that there are more varieties and flavours of tea than coffee. Depending on how the tea leaves are processed, you can have black tea, green tea and matcha, or even oolong or white tea!

Other ingredients are often added to tea to create an entirely new flavour, such as the blending of black tea with Indian spices to create Masala Chai, or the combination of jasmine flowers to green tea to create Jasmine Dragon Pearls. And that’s not even counting the range of herbal teas there are to enjoy!

Green Tea vs Coffee

Green tea typically comes from East Asia and comes in a range of varieties and flavours. Japanese green tea (such as our Sencha or our Supreme Sencha) has a complex, grassy taste with umami notes, whereas Chinese green tea has a lighter taste, with notes of roasted nut.

Green tea is full of health benefits. While it does contain caffeine, the amount is lower than coffee.

Green tea can be good for dental hygiene, due to the presence of anti-bacterial antioxidants. One study found that green tea was better than both mints and chewing gum at reducing bad breathe causing compounds.

For those who are new to green tea we recommend either our Sencha or our Organic Dragon Well. Each serve as an excellent example of their country’s tea brewing tradition.

For those who want to get into drinking green tea but have found they didn’t enjoy the taste in the past, we offer green tea blends, such as our fruity Sencha Goji Berry and our floral Natural Jasmine Green Tea, which can soften the intensity of the green tea leaves, while still allowing you to enjoy the health benefits.

Matcha Tea vs Coffee

Matcha, as a powder made up of finely ground green tea leaves, tastes very different to coffee. Matcha has a fresh, vegetal flavour, with a natural creaminess, umami notes, and a characteristic mild bitterness.

Matcha is high in caffeine. This is because the when the leaf powder is combined with water, it is absorbed (rather than other teas where the leaves are infused before being removed), meaning that more of the natural caffeine content is consumed, alongside the other health benefits.

Matcha is rich in antioxidants, which can help prevent a range of inflammatory diseases. Studies have found that matcha consumption was linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly in comparison to coffee, and a reduced risk of liver diseases.

While matcha tastes quite different to coffee, due to the intensity of its flavour it is equally as versatile. Matcha can be used in a host of different ways, as seen by the popularity of matcha lattes, and it can also be added to smoothies, combining your morning caffeine hit with fruity goodness.

Black Tea vs Coffee

Of all tea types, black tea could be considered the most similar to coffee. Black tea boasts a rich, earthy flavour which can withstand the addition of milk and sugar without being lost.

If you want a brisk, flavoursome tea to start your day, our award-winning Ceylon Breakfast and our Golden London Breakfast are perfect! For a full-bodied in the afternoon, enjoy our Assam Mangalam or Assam Manjushree, both rich, full-bodied teas with malty caramel notes.

Drinking black tea can be beneficial for heart health. It’s full of theaflavins, a polyphenol antioxidant found only in black tea, which can help lower blood cholesterol.

Black tea also contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant which is linked to reduced risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure and reduced risk of stroke.

Tea vs Coffee: Which is right for you?

As you can see, there are many benefits when it comes to drinking tea vs coffee. Swapping your morning coffee for a cup of tea is a simple and easy way to boost your health.

We may be biased, but there are such a wide range of flavours and long-term health benefits to enjoy when drinking tea, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

Shop our Featured Collections below to start your tea journey today!

If you have an specific health concerns related to any of the issues discussed, please contact a medical professional.

As you can see, there are many benefits when it comes to drinking tea vs coffee.