While for some of us, it is difficult to choose between tea or coffee, some people easily decide which one they prefer to drink when they are asked. You may like both or none at all. However, the majority of people prefer one over the other, and it seems that preference may be something you are born with.
Choosing between tea or coffee may have to do with your genes
Scientists at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research have concluded that people’s preference for tea or coffee may be determined by their genes.
Genetics determines a person’s perception of bitterness. Caffeine and some certain vegetables have a different bitter taste to those who are able to detect them.
The findings of the study, which analyzed data from more than 400,000 participants, shed light on why some people consume caffeine at a higher rate than others: Caffeine lovers and coffee drinkers mostly enjoyed bitter coffee.
The importance of genetics of taste in our drinking habits is highlighted by this study, which examines how and why people drink certain things. The study will attempt to assess whether bitter taste genes are associated with disease risks, along with exploring the genetic background of other flavor profiles, such as sweet and salty.
Photo by Drew Jemmett on Unsplash
Choice of Tea or Coffee and your country
The preference for drinking tea or coffee can also be determined by country, according to Euro monitor international market research compiled by the Economist, countries ranked by tea/coffee consumption.
In this ranking, Uzbekistan, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and China are the top five countries where people prefer tea to coffee. On the other hand, Guatemala is the most avid coffee lover in the world: 99.6% of its people prefer coffee to tea. The Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ecuador and Costa Rica followed.
Europeans usually prefer coffee: In Italy, 21.6% of people drink tea, while 78.4% prefer coffee. In Germany, 60.2% drink coffee, while 39.8% prefer tea. Among the exceptions are Russia with 77.5% tea drinkers versus 22.5% coffee drinkers and Hungary with 70% tea drinkers versus 30% coffee drinkers.
Photo by Drew Jemmett on Unsplash
Which one is really better?
It is well known that both tea and coffee have many health benefits. The main component of both beverages is caffeine, and consuming too much of both can cause serious health problems. However, we cannot deny the benefits that make these drinks extraordinary. For example, coffee relaxes muscles but a cup of coffee creates a space that aids acid reflux due to the splash back of stomach acid.
But since coffee has more caffeine content than tea, coffee addicts are recommended to switch to tea as they should not exceed the daily advised amount of 300 milligrams of caffeine. Coffee addicts may also benefit from switching to tea to lower their cholesterol levels. Also, when it comes to antioxidants, tea comes first.
Experts say that tea drinkers who consume different types of tea, such as green tea, black tea or oolong tea, cope better with stressful situations than those who regularly drink coffee.
However, to enjoy the best of both worlds, you need to have a little bit of both, so be careful not to overdo it.
