By Gracelyn Skilling ‘26
74% of Americans drink coffee everyday. More often than not, those 245 billion people are consuming not one, but three cups of coffee daily.
Thanks a lot of coffee.
It’s no secret why this beverage has become such a societal icon. Coffee contains our dearest friend, caffeine: hero to the tired and overworked, two hallmarks of the average American.
But what if I told you there was a better alternative? Something that, yes, contains caffeine, but without the addictiveness and plus extraordinary health benefits. (And, of course, not without impeccable taste.)
Enter: tea.
Tea is, yes, the drink favored by the minority in America. It is often (most tragically) overlooked by most in favor of coffee for their go-to morning drink, under the notion that coffee is the most caffeine–packed and therefore the ideal option. However, after careful analysis of numerous studies and, of course, from personal experience, I have reason to believe tea is in fact better than coffee. So sit back, relax–maybe put the kettle on–while I attempt to persuade you as to why this warm leaf juice is what your life has been missing.
We’ll start by addressing the elephant in the room: caffeine, the aforementioned savior of the sleep-deprived. As I’m sure you know, tea contains significantly less caffeine than coffee–and, yes, I hear you thinking, “but that means it’s less effective!” You may be surprised to find out that actually, no, this isn’t the case. One study asked people to drink four cups of coffee or tea throughout the day. Both drinks had similar effects on alertness cognitive performance, despite tea having a lower caffeine level–and what’s more, this study found that just like coffee, tea was indeed able to aid performance, but unlike coffee, it also did so without disrupting sleep.
To put it in a nutshell, tea essentially has all the benefits of coffee–but without the nasty side effects. What’s not to love?
That’s not all. Tea has a special superpower that further sets it apart from coffee: an amino acid called L-theanine. In tea, L-theanine acts kind of like caffeine’s sidekick. When caffeine is flying solo, such as in coffee, you’re likely to experience a sensation similar to being hit in the face with one big rush of energy upon drinking it, leading to the infamous jitters and crashes I’m sure you’re familiar with. However, when caffeine is paired with L-theanine (which coffee is lacking), the body’s absorption of caffeine is slowed. This effectively prevents said jitters and crashes and provides you with a consistent source of energy throughout the day.
Of course, this beverage has no shortage of health benefits as well. Tea is certainly well-known for its healthiness: it can boost your immune system, fight inflammation, and even prevent heart disease and cancer. Green tea especially is renowned for promoting overall health.
However, I think it’s more notable to consider tea’s extraordinary benefits on mental health in particular. As a full-time stressed out high schooler and pursuer of academic validation, I lead a swashbuckling life of homework, anxiety, and many a late night. Take it from me–tea is humanity’s greatest achievement. I practically run off of the stuff. Personally, I’ve always found that tea has some magical knack for making me feel better on stressful or overwhelming days. It’s like a warm, delightful little hug for the soul in a cup. I was fairly sure tea must be some kind of omnipotent magic substance. Apparently, there’s actual science behind tea’s magic–it’s always a pleasure to hear that I’m not insane. Remember our friend L-theanine? Well, researchers have found that L-theanine stimulates alpha waves in the brain, which can promote a sense of calm and relaxation, even during stress. In fact, L-theanine is even included in some melatonin supplements to help with sleep for this reason.
There you have it. I see no reason for you to continue leading a tragically tea-less life. From its health benefits to its cognitive benefits, this lovely beverage is what your morning routine has been missing. Well, what are you waiting for? Go brew yourself a cup of tea.
Image credit: Stash Tea
