Is Tea More Popular Than Coffee? Discover Tea's Low-Calorie and Health Benefits
12 Sep 2024
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In Western countries, morning coffee shops are always packed, with seats often hard to come by. Additionally, more people in the office seem to prefer coffee. However, globally, more people drink tea than coffee. Tea seems to be more suited for moments of solitude, where you can brew yourself a nice cup of tea and enjoy a brief moment of peace. Here are some surprising facts about tea.
Tea Has Almost No Calories
Tea is an extremely low-calorie beverage. For example, an 8-ounce (approximately 240 ml) cup of brewed black tea contains just about 2 calories, which is practically negligible. Natural loose leaf tea is virtually calorie-free. However, it’s important to note that milk tea and teas with added flavorings and colorings contain more calories. This is why NPTEA strongly recommends drinking natural, handcrafted tea. For instance, one teaspoon of sugar adds 16 calories, while a tablespoon of honey adds 21 calories. Tea lattes, which are a mix of tea and milk in a 1:3 ratio, are popular in cafes and tea shops. A medium-sweet iced tea from a fast-food chain contains about 7 teaspoons of sugar (the American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 6–9 teaspoons of sugar per day). A 12-ounce (355 ml) Starbucks London Fog Tea Latte, made with Earl Grey tea, low-fat milk, and vanilla syrup, contains 140 calories. With the popularity of milk tea, some shops even add ingredients like jelly or pudding to drinks, and a 16-ounce (480 ml) bubble milk tea can contain anywhere from 200 to 450 calories.
One of the World’s Most Popular Beverages
Aside from coffee, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. China is the birthplace of tea, where it was originally a food item before being brewed as a drink in the Qing Dynasty. Today, over 150 countries and nearly 3 billion people drink tea, whether hot or iced. China, Turkey, and the United Kingdom are among the top tea-drinking nations. In 2018, China’s tea consumption reached 2.119 million tons, making it the world’s largest tea consumer. That same year, the top three tea-producing countries globally were China, India, and Kenya, with China accounting for 45% of the world’s tea production. In terms of per capita consumption, Turkey ranks first with 3.04 kg per person annually. In the U.S., half the population drinks tea, with many opting for iced tea or milk tea. Tea plays a significant role in various cultures, particularly in the UK, where afternoon tea has become a classic tradition—something that didn’t exist before the British encountered Chinese tea.
Tea is Beneficial for Heart Health
Tea contains several natural compounds that are good for heart health. Some well-known tea brands have even received FDA approval to label their black and green tea products with claims that they "support heart health" .Tea polyphenols, in particular, are beneficial for cardiovascular health, and studies have shown that tea drinkers have a lower risk of heart disease. In July 2001, the journal Circulation published a study indicating that drinking black tea improves endothelial function, which helps regulate blood flow and prevent atherosclerosis. Drinking three cups of tea a day (about 750 ml) can reduce the risk of heart disease by 11%.
All Six Major Types of Tea Come from the Same Plant
While there are many different types of tea with various names, all true teas come from the same plant—the Camellia sinensis. The distinction between black tea, white tea, oolong tea, and green tea lies in the production process, particularly the degree of fermentation. Green tea is unfermented, oolong tea is semi-fermented, and black tea is fully fermented. White tea has the least fermentation and is often considered a type of green tea. Herbal teas, on the other hand, are made from other plants and are not considered true tea.
The Best Beverage for Hydration
Even though tea contains caffeine, it still helps keep the body hydrated, and tea contains much less caffeine than coffee. Many people don’t enjoy drinking plain water, and tea can add flavor to water, making it more enjoyable. Although tea has a mild diuretic effect, it still provides significant hydration. However, drinking strong tea may increase urination frequency, so it's best to avoid tea before bedtime to ensure a good night’s sleep.Tea is also rich in beneficial compounds, such as polyphenols, especially flavonoids. Tea polyphenols are abundant in plants, with green tea containing many simple flavonoids, while black tea and oolong tea contain more complex ones. These compounds help reduce inflammation, inhibit cancer cell growth, maintain vascular health, and prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Conclusion
Tea is a very healthy and natural beverage suitable for most people. In Chinese households, even children as young as five often drink tea with their parents. Since tea has almost no calories, it’s an excellent beverage choice for those concerned about weight gain. Compared to drinking coffee, tea consumption leads to lower caffeine intake, which is gentler on the heart.
Common Questions
1.Does green tea have calories?
Tea generally contains no significant calories and is an excellent beverage for hydration.
2.Does hot tea have calories?
If it's made from natural loose leaf tea without any additives, it’s calorie-free.
3.Does black tea have calories?
Black tea, one of the six major types of tea, contains almost no calories.
4.Does unsweet tea have calories?
Unsweetened natural tea without any additives is calorie-free, but keep in mind that milk tea adds a lot of calories.
SEE MORE
If you have questions about selecting tea:
Learn-more-about-chinese-tea
If you have questions about the benefits of tea:
Health-benefits-of-chinese-tea
If you have questions about brewing tea:
How-to-brew-loose-leaf-tea