The acid in tea vs. coffee: which drink contains more acid? 

I love a good cup of tea. But when I heard that my favorite beverage is quite acidic, I was shocked. 

How could it be? Isn’t tea supposed to be all-natural and healthy? Well, yes—but that doesn’t mean it’s not potentially damaging your body with high acidity levels.  

The same can also be true for coffee drinkers. Coffee has numerous health benefits. 

But its high acidity levels can still cause harm if consumed in excess. So acid in tea vs. coffee: which drink is more acidic? And how does brewing affect their levels of acidity? 

Let’s find out!

Acid In Tea Vs. Coffee: Is tea more acidic than coffee?

So, is tea more acidic than coffee?

The answer is yes. That’s because tea contains oxalic acid, malic acid, and citric acid. But coffee only has one: acetic acid. 

Acetic acid is a weak organic acid that gives off a sour taste when you drink it in large quantities. Take vinegar, for example. 

The Tea Brewing Process Affects

Brewing tea longer and at lower temperature results in a more acidic drink. This means that black tea is the most acidic because it’s brewed for a long time. 

The standard brewing time is three to five minutes with boiling water.

Similarly, white, green, and oolong teas are all more acidic than coffee due to their longer brew times and low-temperature brewing methods.

What does this mean for you? 

Try white or oolong varieties if you prefer your morning beverage containing caffeine but also want something less acidic than coffee. 

These brews have significantly less acidity than their darker counterparts!

Are The Acids In Tea Vs. Coffee Damaging To The Body? 

Although it’s widely believed that acids are harmful to you, the truth is that they’re vital to your body. 

Your body contains several different acid compounds and enzymes, which play essential roles in digestion and metabolism.

Acids also help break down proteins and make amino acids available to cells. 

They support the immune system by helping the body recognize foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria. 

They also help maintain a healthy pH balance in our bodies (keeping us from becoming too acidic). Acids also assist with nutrient absorption. 

You might have heard of vitamin C as an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals in our bodies. 

Vitamin C gets its name because it’s an acid!

Acid In Tea Vs. Coffee: Both Are Acidic 

So tea and coffee are acidic, but you can reduce that acidity a bit with clever brewing methods. For example, if you use one teaspoon of loose leaf tea instead of a tea bag, it will have less acidity. 

You can add milk or cream to your tea to help neutralize the taste (buttermilk is especially good).

If you prefer coffee over tea and want to reduce its acidity, try making some cold brew coffee and diluting it with water or milk. 

Or add some lemon juice or lime juice to cut back on the acidity even more!

Conclusion

So acid in tea vs. coffee: which has more acidity? 

Both have a certain amount of acidity, but tea is more acidic. It boils down to the amount you consume. 

So be watchful with your coffee or tea intake, and you’re good to go!