Millions of South Africans reach for a cup of tea or coffee each morning. Ever wonder why you favour one beverage in particular?
According to a study conducted by international market research agency, OnePoll, your morning cuppa says a lot about who you are. Researchers found significant personality differences among the 2000 people they examined based on their morning beverage of choice.
Contrary to popular belief, researchers found coffee drinkers to be more introverted and creative than tea drinkers, who describe themselves as extroverts that enjoy social interaction and crave adventure.
75% of coffee and tea drinkers have their first cuppa before 08:00 and it’s often on the go – taking their morning drink with them as they battle the traffic, school drop-offs, and the like.
Taste in music also vary. Those who favour coffee listen to jazz, blues, punk and rock in contrast to tea lovers who prefer a combination of classical, country, pop, hip hop and rap.
Both love pets, but on the whole, coffee drinkers prefer the companionship of a dog, while tea drinkers are fonder of cats.
When asked about why they prefer coffee or tea, 41% of coffee drinkers said they can’t start their day without coffee as they rely on a decent dose of caffeine to get them going first thing in the morning. They like the buzz coffee gives them, which supports their fast-paced, always on-the-go lifestyle.
30% of tea drinkers chose tea for the exact opposite reason – stating too much caffeine as a turnoff. They also tend to appreciate living in the moment and are more reflective by nature.
The spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council, Adele du Toit, says several studies over the years have yielded similar results, so there must be some truth to it.
“Other studies concur that coffee drinkers tend to be ‘morning’ people compared to tea drinkers who describe themselves as night owls. Cleanliness and orderliness are a lot more important to tea drinkers than their coffee drinking peers, who often self-identify as ‘messy’. Sleep seems to elude coffee drinkers with many describing themselves as light sleepers – either waking up at the slightest noise or blaming it on racing thoughts that keep them up at night, whereas most tea drinkers (57%) say they generally sleep well,” she says.
Adele adds that while most teas contain less caffeine than coffee, herbal tisanes like Rooibos are completely caffeine-free and has been proven to alleviate stress and anxiety, aiding in a good night’s rest. “The combination of antioxidants in Rooibos lowers cortisol (stress hormone) in the body. The higher the level of cortisol, the greater the likelihood of interrupted sleep.”
The OnePoll study refers to coffee drinkers being addicted to caffeine with another report citing almost half (49%) of coffee drinkers saying they’d rather give up their cell phone for a month than go without coffee. The same can’t be said for tea drinkers as addiction isn’t a problem.
“Caffeine is a stimulant that keeps you awake, so it’s best to limit these beverages to the morning. With Rooibos, the opposite is true. The more you drink, the better you will sleep,” says Adele.
Compiled by JUSTINE FORTUIN Source: SA ROOIBOS COUNCIL
