Tea, coffee or hot chocolate??

Question

Which is better and why???

Answer 1

Though tea continues to make a comeback here, it's safe to say that North America is still largely a coffee-dominated culture. But with the increase in popularity of tea in recent years, it's also safe to speculate that some newcomers to tea are being drawn from the ranks of coffee drinkers.

Before looking into this issue more closely it might be interesting to examine why some people drink coffee and others tea. In 2005, Australian researchers published the results of a study that looked at the genetics of tea and coffee drinking. Among their findings, "tea and coffee drinking were shown to have similar heritabilities (0.46) in males, but tea consumption was influenced by common environmental factors whereas coffee consumption was not."

The notion of a nation converting en masse from coffee to tea is not without historical precedent. According to Brian William Cowan, writing in The Social Life of Coffee, coffee consumption in Britain was about ten times that of tea around 1700. Cheaper and more readily available supplies meant that imports of tea surpassed those of coffee by the 1720s.

Nowadays, with tea still inexpensive and readily available, it's more likely that people are turning to it because of its potential health benefits and the belief that it's a more relaxing drink than coffee. For actor Tom Hanks, the transition reportedly came about several years ago because he was concerned about gaining weight from "too many lattes." In a book of life extension strategies and technologies, Ray Kurzweil recommended making the switch because of tea's lower caffeine content and antioxidants, as well as the compound L-theanine, "which promotes healthful relaxation."

For those seeking to ease their transition from coffee to tea, there are a few options to keep in mind. If you're looking for a tea that, like coffee, offers a good pick-me-up and a robust flavor, black teas like Assam, Yunnan, Keemun and Lapsang Souchong might be worth looking into. Also worth considering, black tea-based breakfast blends, puerh and the more full-flavored oolong varieties, such as Wuyi.

Though not strictly a tea, some coffee converts find the flavor and boost they get from yerba mate to be an adequate substitute, while rooibos tends to be a good choice for those looking to forsake caffeine altogether, while still consuming a relatively full-flavored drink.

For some additional suggestions on making the switch, refer to this thread at the TeaChat forum and a similar one at Chowhound. From the TeaMuse site, here's an article from a former coffee drinker who discusses her conversion. For more on Felicitea's Coffee to Tea Convert Contest, look here.

Answer 2

Hello,

Most definately hot chocolate for me! I can't help it ! It's an addiction!

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Answer 3

For me coffee if i'm indoors any time as lond as it not too warm. if I going outside in the winter then Hot chocolate I think it they way the milk in the coffee react with the cold them I just don't like the tast.

Answer 4

I prefer Tea because coffee and chocolate are addictive and they have more caffeine in them

Answer 5

HOt chocolate

Answer 6

COFFEE... im addicted!!!

its just pure goodness.

not any of the instant stuff. real espresso.

tea is bland and hot chocolate is too sweet. plus you get a caffeine hit from coffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Answer 7

i prefer hot chocolate because it tastes the best to me and it isnt addictive like coffee and tea

Answer 8

coffee is the best

Answer 9

All three! Tea is good because it doesn't have the caffeine of coffee, has so many  different flavors, and is good hot or cold, with milk and without.  Coffee is good because it wakes you up in the morning and is very tasty. Chocolate is good because like tea, it comes in many different flavors, tastes good with milk (milk chocolate), and without(dark chocolate), is very versatile and can be used in many different scenarios.

Answer 10

I prefer Coffee:)

Answer 11

apparently hot chocolate suppose to help you sleep better i've heard dunno if it's true,but i love hot chocolate,especially mint aero one.

Answer 12

coffee.

because i think it has better flavour than tea.  hot chocolate is too sweet for me.

Answer 13

Either Tea or Hot Chocolate.

Green Tea would be the best because it is healthy and it doesn't have sugar and all that sweet stuff in it. It's natural.

Hot Chocolate because it wakes you up and it is a wonderful drink to drink in the morning while you eat breakfast :)

Coffee is bad because it is bitter unless you put a lot of sugar in it. It is not healthy at all.

Answer 14

Mexican hot chocolate when it's really cold out.

Answer 15

Chai tea

Answer 16

Coffe, Caffeine.

Answer 17

Hot Chocolate, it tastes better.

Although some teas are really healthy...

Answer 18

All of em at once

Answer 19

hot chocolate.....

it is relaxing... and somehow making me stress free

Answer 20

Hot chocolate! though ice chocolate on cold days.

Its nice! Yr teeth wont turn yellow..

Answer 21

prefer  tea.............its a stumulent

Answer 22

one coffee for me please

best of luck!!

keep smiling:)))

Answer 23

coffee

Answer 24

any caffeine will do...

Answer 25

I like hot chocolate because it's sweet and it's a great drink. I also like Indian tea (or chai). I'm not much of a coffee person. I personally don't like it. =)

Answer 26

Hot chocolate =]

I like it cause everyone likes hot chocolate and its easito make :D