May 13 2010
Coffee and Tea
Two of the most popular beverages in the world are coffee and tea. These two beverages are both similar and completely opposite at the same time and yet are equally relished for their distinct tastes and in some cases for their caffeine.
Coffee is best known for being a pick-me up beverage that is often used to start the day. Many people will readily admit that they rely on their first cup of coffee to get their day moving. Coffee drinkers are a unique group. Each person has their own vision of what makes a great cup of coffee and they are typically adamant about how it is prepared. Some people will drink any coffee and don’t have preferences while others are insistent on certain brands or even flavors of coffee.
Coffee, like tea, can be served both hot and cold. While hot is the traditional manner in which coffee is served, iced coffee drinks have become quite popular and many non-coffee drinkers have found that they enjoy the iced version. Coffee drinks can be as fancy or as plain as the individual who makes the coffee.
Tea and tea drinkers are a different group of people. First, there are iced tea drinkers who won’t go near hot teas. Iced tea drinkers may also be coffee drinkers but aren’t always hot tea drinkers. People who drink hot teas describe it as mild and gentle, not overpowering and strong like coffee. The image that is often associated with hot tea is of a flower garden with ladies wearing wide-brimmed hats daintily sipping their tea while eating crumpets.
Tea drinkers have come a long way from the flower garden and hot tea has gained in popularity. Many offices today offer a variety of hot teas as well as coffee for clients. Hot tea comes in many different varieties, some of which are known for their calming effects while others are known for their antioxidant properties such as green teas.
Both tea and coffee are available in decaffeinated versions, which make it possible for people who don’t want the side effects of caffeine to enjoy their favorite beverage. While there are some tea drinkers who won’t drink coffee and some coffee drinkers who wouldn’t dare drink hot tea, there are some people who like both teas and coffees and don’t limit themselves to belonging to one group or the other.
Coffee and tea both have a place in the world of beverages and the majority of homes have at least one of the two in the cupboard, if not both. Freshly brewed hot coffee, a cup of hot herbal tea or a tall glass of iced tea, regardless of which one is requested the resulting drink is an acquired taste that is specific to the individual drinker.
-Sharon Chapman
As far as coffee goes, you can get your fill of it here! But if you’d like to read more about tea, including tea recipes and more, visit JensTeaHouse.com!