Coffee and tea are the two main drinks in the world. Billions of people drink coffee and tea every da
prefer the bitter taste of coffee, while others are attracted to the mild aroma of tea. Whether you choose coffee or tea depends on taste buds, aroma, and psychological factors, but recent studies show that genes play an important role here. The human tongue can perceive five basic types of tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami. Among these, the task of sensing the bitterness of coffee is controlled by certain genes. On the other hand, the task of sensing the mild taste of tea is performed by olfactory receptors. These receptors mainly help us to smell. And how sensitive they are is also controlled by our body’s genes. The TAS2R (Taste receptor type 2) gene plays a major role in taste. These genes mainly help to detect bitter tastes. For example, the TAS2R43 gene helps to detect the bitterness of caffeine. People with a specific form of this gene experience the bitter taste of caffeine more. As a result, they may have an adverse reaction to coffee. Again, the CYP1A2 gene helps in digesting caffeine. Many people have more of this gene, while others have less. People with a higher level of this gene in their bodies can digest caffeine faster and drink more coffee. In addition, drinking coffee causes dopamine to be released in the body of many people due to genetic reasons. As a result, they become addicted to coffee. Now let’s talk about tea. The gene called OR6A2 helps in identifying the specific smell of tea. People with a higher sensitivity to this gene generally enjoy the subtle aroma of tea more. In addition, tea contains two ingredients called catechins and flavonoids. People with a higher TAS2R16 gene enjoy the taste of these two ingredients more. As a result, they drink more tea. So if anyone blames you for drinking too much tea or coffee, tell them that it is actually your genes’ fault!