Tea or coffee? It could very well be down to your genes

Some people like tea and coffee equally, but the majority of us prefer one over the other, why is this? Well new research suggests that it could be down to your genes whether you like coffee or tea better.

Scientists found coffee lovers are more likely than the average person to taste strongly the bitter caffeine the drink contains. And they tend to drink less tea, which contains lower levels of caffeine.

Researchers said the fact that someone responds to bitter flavours more is written in their genes. Scores of genetic differences affect our taste receptors.

The study undertaken by the University of Queensland in Australia, looked at more than 40,000 Britons’ drinking habits and their taste preferences through the UK Biobank genetic database.

They discovered that people less sensitive to caffeine drank more tea – and this was particularly the case for women. People who are more sensitive to bitter tastes tended to avoid coffee as well a food stuffs such as kale and sprouts.

The researchers concluded that this is due to our genes because we have been programmed by evolution to avoid bitter tastes because it can mean that food or drink is poisonous.