Introduction
There are many beverages around the world, but few are the commonest at every nook and corner. Amongst them, the two most common beverages are coffee and tea. Coffee beans and tea leaves were extracted from different parts of the plant.
Coffee and Tea both are consumed as a refreshing or energy drink. They contain caffeine, an alkaloid that is considered an instant eye-opener substance. Coffee beans and Tea leaves go through too many processes like roasting, grinding, oxidization, etc. Thereafter, these were available for consumers as a beverage. They bear lots of health benefits also but only when, if consumed in limited quantity. Let's discuss in detail Coffee and Tea in this topic.
Coffee vs. Tea
Coffee is extracted from the Coffea arabica plant, and Tea is removed from the Camellia sinensis plant. Coffee has been originated in the 9th Century AD from Ethiopia, while Tea has been originated in 2737 BC from Yunnan(a province of China), Assam(a state in India).
Beans of coffee taken from a fruit known as cherries of Coffea arabica and leaves of tea plucked from Camellia sinensis. Both coffee, as well as tea, contain varying amounts of caffeine. Coffee beans have 1.1 - 2.2% caffeine, whereas tea leaves contain 3.5% caffeine. The taste of these beverages is also quite different. Coffee has a rich and robust flavor, and Tea has a mild flavor.
Difference between Coffee and Tea in Tabular Form
| Parameter | Coffee | Tea |
| Occurrence | In Ethiopia and Yemen, during the 9th century AD | In Yunnan and Assam, during 2737 BC |
| Botanical Name | Coffea arabica | Camellia sinensis |
| Used Plant part | Beans | Fresh leaves |
| Largest Producers | Indonesia and Brazil (In World);Karnataka (In India) | Kenya and China (In World);Assam (In India) |
| Caffeine content | 1.1- 2.2 % caffeine | 3.5% caffeine |
| Taste | Coffee possesses a rich and robust flavor. | Tea possesses a Mild flavor. |
| Composition | Contains Vitamins (B2, B3), minerals(Mg, K), and antioxidants like caffeine. | Contains antioxidant polyphenols or flavonoids and caffeine. |
| Types | Four types of coffee beans: ArabicaRobustaExcelsaLiberica | Six main categories:Black tea, Green tea, Dark tea, Oolong tea, White tea, and Pu-erh |
What is Coffee?
Coffee is brewed from roasted beans of Coffea arabica. Coffee beans were roasted after removing fruit (cherries). It is processed by three techniques that are,
- Natural or Dry Method,
- Washed or Wet Method,
- Pulped Natural Method or Honey Method.
The types of coffee depend upon the types of beans. Here are a few types of coffee.
Arabica
Arabica bean extracted from the plant Coffea arabica. These are a bit sweet, and less acidic than the other coffee.
Robusta
Robusta bean extracted from the plant Coffea caniphora. This coffee is known for its strong and harsh flavor due to its high caffeine content.
Liberica
Liberica bean is extracted from the plant Coffea liberica. It has a woody taste.
Excelsa
Excelsa bean extracted from the plant Coffea liberica var. dewevrei. This coffee is known for its fruity flavor and tastes like light and dark roast coffee.
The caffeine content in Coffee and its effect on Human Beings
Coffee has approximately 135-175 milligrams of caffeine per cup. It can cause an immediate effect and lead to anxiety in an individual. However, limited consumption does not cause any harmful effects. Instead, the caffeine present in coffee can alleviate Asthma.
What is Tea?
Tea is prepared from fresh leaves of Camellia sinensis. It is an aromatic and flavored beverage. Tea is introduced in India by Britishers via the East India Company.
There are mainly six categories of tea. Different type of tea originates because of the processes that are done after the leaves are picked.
- Green Tea – It originates mainly in China & Japan. Green tea has less caffeine than black tea. It has the only tea leaves that undergo the firing process at the first step to retain their green color.
- Black Tea – It is mainly a product of China. Black tea is defined by its high level of oxidation and is highly caffeinated.
- White Tea – It is minimally processed and delicate. White tea has less caffeine than other types of tea.
- Pu-erh(Puer) – This tea belongs to the Yunnan province. Puer tea is available in two forms: “Raw puer” and “Ripe puer”.
- Dark Tea – This tea is slightly sweet. It has high tannin due to the pine firing of tea leaves.
- Oolong Tea – It originates from China. Oolong tea undergoes a semi-oxidization process. In India, Darjeeling oolong is grown in Darjeeling and is hand plucked. It is also known as ‘black dragon tea’.
The Caffeine Content in Tea and its Effect on Human Beings
Tea contains about 55 milligrams of caffeine per cup. The higher the caffeine content in tea, the more flavorful the tea will be. However, the effect of caffeine in tea is less than that in coffee because it enters the blood slowly, compared to coffee. Tea is known for its fighting ability against cancer and heart diseases.
Main Difference Between Coffee and Tea (In Points)
- Coffee is extracted from the fruit of the Coffea arabica plant, and Tea is extracted from the fresh leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
- The largest producers of Coffee are Indonesia and Brazil, Karnataka(India), whereas the largest producers of Tea are Kenya and China, and Assam (India).
- Coffee possesses a rich and strong flavor, while Tea is having mild flavor.
- Coffee beans are of mainly four types: Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica, while Tea is categorized into six types: Black tea, Green tea, Dark tea, Oolong tea, White tea, and Pu-erh (Peur)
- Coffee contains Vitamins (B2, B3), minerals (Magnesium, potassium), and antioxidants like caffeine; whereas Tea contains many nutrients, antioxidants such as polyphenols or flavonoids, and caffeine.
- Quantity of Caffeine in Coffee is 80-185 mg per 8-ounce cup (236 ml) and in Tea 15-70 mg per cup.
- Both Coffee and Tea are extracted from plant parts that are cultivated throughout the year. But Tea leaves were plucked off at an early stage when they are young and fresh. Coffee beans were taken when the fruit of the plant became mature. Then both leaves of Tea and the beans of coffee were dried to retain their flavor and make them available for further usage. Coffee and Tea contain a natural chemical called caffeine that provides stimulation.
- Coffee contains caffeine, phenolic acid, many minerals, vitamins B2 and B3, amino acids, and antioxidants that help in fighting diseases and maintaining health. Tea contains Vitamin E, Vitamin C, catechin, and antioxidants such as polyphenols that prevent heart disease and cancer.
Conclusion
In this topic, we get to know a lot about coffee and tea. Most beverages were prepared from coffee and tea, which are popular all around the world. Now, we are awakened to many types of teas and coffee, their origin, caffeine content, and many more. So, it is concluded that both are the product of an evergreen plant and bear lots of advantages and disadvantages.
References
- https://drinksupercoffee.com/blog/nutrition/what-is-coffee/
- https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/tea/
- https://www.teasource.com
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/coffee
- https://districtroasters.com
