This or That: Coffee vs. Tea

Which is "greener," coffee or tea?

Coffee is the world's most traded beverage (it is actually the most traded commodity after oil) but tea is the world's most consumed beverage. Americans generally prefer coffee but new and different tea varieties like green and white teas are becoming popular. But is one more environmentally friendly than the other?

Both coffee and tea can carry the fair trade seal (which ensures that those growing your beverage have safe working conditions and competitive wages). Both coffee and tea can also carry the organic seal (so you know that your drink wasn't grown with the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers).

But cultivation practices for both coffee and tea aren't entirely good for the environment. Many environmentalists argue that today's coffee growing technique (sun cultivation, in which coffee beans are grown in full sunlight rather than shaded areas) contribute to deforestation and require the use of more pesticides. Clear-cut coffee plantations also destroy many natural habitats. Tea, on the other hand, can contribute to land degradation and surface water pollution (when harsh pesticides are used).

In the end, coffee and tea are pretty evenly matched. But despite cultivation drawbacks, coffee and tea offer a variety of health benefits. Coffee lowers the risk of diabetes and protects against Parkinson's syndrome. Tea can lower blood pressure, and prevent kidney stones and Alzheimer's disease.

The choice is really just a matter of taste. So...which do you prefer, coffee or tea?

Sources: "Coffee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee