Is Tea Acidic Like Coffee and Which is Better? Debate Settled

Is tea acidic like coffee? My girlfriend is lately suffering from acid reflux. We’ve been looking lately for alternatives to coffee and examined the possibility for her to switch to tea. But is it as acidic as coffee? Stick around, in this article, I’m going to talk about tea, compare its acidity level with coffee and share brewing tips along the way. 

Is tea acidic like coffee? 

Yes, some teas are as acidic as coffee. In fact, the pH of black tea is 4.9-5.5 while the pH of black coffee is between 4.6 and 5.8. But there are other types of tea that are less acidic than coffee such as herbal teas (6-7 pH) or green tea (7-9.5). 

Which teas are the most acidic?

Let’s take a look at the pH of various types of tea that are the most acidic.

• Hibiscus tea → 9
• White tea →  8-10
• Green tea → 8-9
• Chamomile/ mint tea → 7
• Peppermint tea → 6-7
• Oolong tea → 5.5-7
• Black tea → 5
• Iced tea → 3-4
• Rosehip, Blackberry tea → 2-3

It’s important to mention that the higher the pH, the less acidic your drink is. For example, Hibiscus tea is less acidic than Peppermint tea while Rosehip and Blackberry tea are the most acidic on the list. 

If you’re facing any stomach issues including acid reflux or GARD, it’s wise to opt for low-acid tea – health comes first. 

What are the health benefits of tea

Let’s chat about the health benefits of tea in general and specific teas. 

Health benefits of tea in general

• Antioxidant properties: tea is rich in antioxidant properties, meaning that a cup of tea will help your body fight toxins and clean your system. 

• Weight management: tea helps you maintain your weight and it’s always a good idea to enjoy a cup of tea when you’re on a diet since a cup of contains almost zero calories.

• Helps with regulating blood pressure: research has shown that tea consumption on a regular basis helps you regulate your blood pressure, which might prevent you from developing diabetes 2.

Top tip: drinking tea should be done in moderation; if you consume excessive amounts of tea for its health benefits, it’s going to backfire and might cause you health issues. 

1. Health benefits of White tea 

It comes from the Camelia sinensis plant and it grows in India and China; it’s rich in antioxidants and great for keeping your teeth white since it’s full of catechins, fluoride, and tannins that strengthen your teeth.

2. Health benefits of Herbal tea

Herbal teas are known for their calming properties helping you to go to sleep easily. They also help your body regulate its blood pressure and are great for healing an upset stomach. They also help with constipation, headaches, migraines, osteoarthritis, and overall liver health. 

3. Health benefits of Green tea 

China is the biggest Green tea exporter, and it’s no coincidence that this type of tea is one of the most popular around the world. It can reduce bad cholesterol and helps with urination. It’s also known as anti-inflammatory tea, helping your skin be healthy and shiny. 

4. Health benefits of Black tea 

Black tea also comes from the Camelia sinensis plant but it’s fermented to turn dark. It’s a proper energy booster since it contains caffeine – great for kick-starting your day with a cup of black coffee. However, if you’re having stomach issues, it’s wise to opt for another tea on the list. 

5. Health benefits of Oolong tea

Oolong tea is Chinese traditional and it’s great for reducing anxiety but at the same time helps you increase alertness. Research has also shown that helps with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. 

How to reduce the acidity of your brew 

Let’s talk about how to reduce the acidity level of your brew whether it’s tea or coffee. 

How to reduce acidity in tea 

• Cut down the brewing time: the longer you brew tea, the more acid is extracted which ends up in your cup making your beverage more acidic. By reducing the time of brewing, your drink might be slightly less flavourful but at the same time less acidic. 

• Add milk or creamer: milk and creamer are less acidic than coffee and tea; when you pop a splash of milk or creamer in your tea, it’s going to neutralise the pH of your brew making it less acidic. 

• Skip lemon juice: let’s face it, lemon juice goes well with certain teas like Chamomile or Green tea, but because lemon is too acidic, it’s not a good idea to add lemon juice to your brew as it’s going to be more acidic. 

• Go for less acidic teas: it’s not wise to drink Black tea every single day if you’re facing stomach issues as it’s as acidic as coffee. Go for herbal teas or anything with low acid. 

How to reduce acidity in coffee

• Make iced coffee: water is less acidic than coffee (7pH vs. 5pH); because coffee is poured over ice cubes, it’s mixed up with the water of the ice cubes. This simple trick neutralises the pH of your brew which practically means that iced coffee is good for acid reflux.

• Add milk or creamer: milk and creamer are great for bringing down the pH in coffee too and this way you make your brew less acidic. 

• Brew coffee with eggshells: eggshells are an alkali and by brewing coffee with eggshells will reduce the acidity level of your drink. Make sure to use a strainer to block eggshell bits slipping through your cup. 

• Use dark roast coffee beans/grounds: the longer coffee beans are roasted, the less acidity they contain as roasting forces coffee beans to release acidity. Dark roast coffee beans are roasted longer than medium and light roasts, so they brew less acidic coffee. 

Let’s wrap it up

You made it to the end of this article and I hope it helped you understand if tea is acidic like coffee. Stay tuned, I’m going to write articles about low-acid alternative drinks, delicious beverages, their health benefits, and how to avoid acidic beverages that might cause health issues.  Starbucks has a range of low-acid tea and coffee.

FAQ

Let’s quickly go over a couple of FAQs to help you get the big picture. 

How acidic is tea?

The short answer is: it really depends as some types of teas are more acidic than others. For example, Black tea is more acidic than Herbal tea and Rosehp and Blackberry tea are some of the most acidic teas you can find out there.

What is the least acidic tea?

If you’re suffering from stomach issues including acid reflux and looking for the least acidic tea to have Hibiscus is a great option with a pH of 9 (even less acidic than water). However, if you’ve been having acid reflux for quite some time now and it’s still bugging you even though you tried a few things to heal your stomach, it’s wise to give up on tea and coffee entirely for a couple of weeks or even months (depending on your situation) to let your stomach fully recover.

Are coffee and tea bad for your teeth?

An excessive amount of coffee or tea consumption might change the colour of your teeth making you lose your shiny smile. However, there are teas that make your teeth stronger and healthier. One of them is White tea as it contains fluoride and tannins which whiten your teeth.