The answer really lies in your personal taste mostly. Both black coffee and black tea offer various health benefits along with being widely enjoyed by millions around the world for the pure pleasure of drinking a flavorful, hot beverage with an appealing aroma. The tea versus coffee debate is lively – sparked by interest and beliefs in certain health benefits.
Let’s start by stating that coffee and tea are both healthiest when consumed black – with no added artificial sweeteners. Tea offers many flavors, so it is often easier to enjoy without adding sweeteners. Tea can also easily be naturally flavored using fruits or spices. Black coffee can be enhanced by using plant-based milk such as coconut or almond milk or adding spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg.
Black tea is the winner in the coffee versus tea debate when it comes to antioxidants. Tea is loaded with antioxidants that are not found in coffee. The benefit of these antioxidants are many but the main takeaway is that they eliminate free radicals in the body which leads to supporting overall health. Drinking black tea may help to prevent certain cancers and diseases, improve overall skin appearance by reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and it may help lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Black coffee also contains antioxidants – though different than tea, everyone can agree that antioxidants are a good thing and support overall health in the human body. Coffee has other benefits including improved performance during workouts, helps to burn fat, and may help improve brain function. Much of this is attributed to the higher levels of caffeine in coffee versus tea. Recent studies have also shown that drinking coffee may increase the average life expectancy giving you more time to enjoy that beautiful cup of coffee.
In the coffee versus tea decision, you can rest assured that both provide health benefits. Either black tea or coffee is a smart choice based on your taste and your craving for the day. Both are also very enjoyable cold and served over ice to make a refreshing summertime beverage. Relax and enjoy what sounds good and know that you’ve made a healthy choice.