Students have the opportunity to enjoy drinking many types of tea — green tea, lemon ginger tea, peppermint tea and various other herbal flavors. This is different from cappuccinos, lattes and espressos, which are overwhelmed with the bitter flavor of coffee.
Due to superior taste, health benefits, lower cost and a more gentle caffeine experience, tea is the superior beverage for students to enjoy.
Green tea, for example, can reduce inflammation in the body, according to The Journal of Nutrition and Environmental Medicine. Green tea helps to prevent blood clots from developing in blood vessels, allowing blood to flow easier in the body — a huge improvement for student’s cardiovascular health. Since certain teas can benefit a person’s health, tea would give students more energy to study and work.
“I definitely think tea is healthier than coffee,” sophomore music education major Dayanna Brown said. “Whenever I drink coffee, I put more sugar in it because I don’t like the bitter taste, but for tea, I can drink it more naturally.”
Caffeine can help students stay awake during class, but consuming large amounts of caffeine can lead to dehydration, according to Live Strong. Even though green tea does contain caffeine, it has significantly less caffeine than coffee. Eight ounces of green tea has 25 milligrams of caffeine, while eight ounces of coffee has 95 to 165 milligrams of caffeine.
Additionally, high amounts of caffeine can affect the nervous system, according to Live Strong. If students drink one to two cups of tea daily, students would feel less hyper since tea would give students the appropriate amount of caffeine.
Tea allows for students to experience an afternoon pick-me-up without negatively putting one’s sleep cycle at risk. While tea and coffee can give students an energy boost, some students drink certain types of tea to relax after a long day.
“I really like night time tea because as soon as you put a spoonful of honey in it, then mix it up, it’s like the best thing ever,” senior journalism and emerging media major Brittanie Randall said. “It helps you sleep, that’s my theory.”
Chamomile and ginger teas can help soothe the digestive system, according to Today. Since the digestive system has more neurons than the brain, tea can cause the body to relax naturally and help decrease stress for students, according to BBC News.
Students can even save a few dollars when buying tea. At Starbucks, a grande Teavana Chai Tea costs $2.45 while a Cappuccino costs $3.85, according to its menu. Even a grande Matcha Green Tea Latte, which is priced at $4.25, costs 70 cents less than a grande Pumpkin Spiced Latte.
Additionally, one does not need a fancy coffee maker to brew delicious tea. Simply boil water in a kettle and pour over a tea bag for the perfect warm drink.
The next time students are tempted by coffee, students should consider a warm cup of tea instead. Health, finances and taste buds benefit from drinking more tea.
