As someone who works at a coffee shop, I find myself drinking quite a lot of coffee. I also like to think I know quite a lot about “the coffee world,” but with more and more people ordering tea I found myself curious about this other mysterious caffeinated beverage. I thought it would be an interesting experience to try out tea for a week by substituting it for my usual coffee. Here are a few questions that I had, and how I would answer them now after my experience:
Is Tea More Economical?
I’ve always wondered if tea would help me save money. And let me tell you… the first thing I realized was how much money and time I saved. I can’t speak on tea prices at coffee shops, but it’s super cheap to buy a box of bagged tea at your preferred grocery store. Unlike coffee, which I have never made at home, you can easily make tea at home. All you need is hot water, a tea bag and a mug! 10/10 would recommend for this alone.
How Many Tea Options Are There?
Before delving into the tea world, I didn’t know much to be honest. So, upon doing this I quickly noticed how many varieties of tea there are. It’s not to say that the coffee selection is limited — because there definitely are a lot of choices out there too. Still, I had no idea how many different teas there were, even within a general term like green tea. Don’t like tea because you tried it once? Trust me, you can probably find another type that you like. Big fan of lattes? There are plenty of tea latte options too.
Are There Physical Health Benefits?
This was the question I was probably the most curious about. I would really love to report back on it, but I didn’t notice that much of a physical difference at all. It’s true that tea can be beneficial to your health — green tea especially. However, I only did this for a week, so many physical benefits likely wouldn’t present themselves.
I will say that even though I didn’t notice a physical difference, I did feel healthier. There’s something about drinking something that’s basically leaves in hot water that makes you feel like you’re doing something good for your body. Other than a possible placebo effect, I did notice one more thing. In the past, I’ve seen how coffee can heighten anxiety; while drinking tea I didn’t experience this at all. Drinking tea was actually a relaxing experience. So, mentally, I would say I felt better.
After this experience, I can say I have a newfound appreciation for tea. Will I continue to drink coffee? Definitely. Although, I can also see myself swapping a cup of tea for my coffee — especially when I’m in need of some de-stressing. So next time you want your daily caffeine, consider trying a tea instead.