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We live in a world inundated with Starbucks, Coffee Beans, etc.. A search of Fort Myers for Starbucks revealed 13 of them within about a half hour of each other.

Millions of Americans depend on these chains every morning to get their caffeine fix. With the introduction of a drive-through built in to most of these companies, millions of Americans can now get their caffeine fix right from the comfort of their cars without ever having to remove their Bluetooth headset.

The average cup of coffee contains anywhere between 125-185 milligrams off caffeine per cup. While this is good for a quick jolt, the energy provided dissipates rather quickly leading to a second cup, creating a vicious circle. This is undoubtedly the reason for the wide-spread consumption of coffee, but there is one alternative that can be purchased at any of your favorite coffee locations: tea.

While tea does in fact contain less caffeine than coffee, it still does contain enough to receive the intended effect. The average 6 oz. cup of tea contains anywhere between 30-90 milligrams of caffeine.

Despite the reduced instant caffeine gratification, tea produces a prolonged source of gratification: health benefits. Research has shown that tea may prevent cancer, stop cavities, prevent and treat skin disease, control high blood pressure, lower blood sugar, suppress aging, restrict blood cholesterol, deter food poisoning, and fight viruses. Coffee on the other hand has very little going for it in terms of these health benefits.

Similar to coffee, there are many different types of tea to suit your taste. Among the most popular types of tea are black, green, white, and oolong. Tea leaves are picked from an evergreen shrub known as "Camellia sinesis," while there are four types of tea listed here, in actuality there are over 3000 varieties. The tea leaves are harvested after what is known in the tea picking world as a "flush," which means that the shrubbery has sprouted a number of tea leaves. It is at this point that the different types are distinguished. Black tea is made from leaves that have been withered, dried and fully oxidized. It has one of the stronger flavors, as can be sampled with English Breakfast or Darjeeling teas. Green tea differs from black tea in that it is not oxidized; it is also known to be the most benevolent of all the types. White tea is the least processed and also the rarest. It is recommended only for the most serious tea drinkers as the taste can bear a striking resemblance to water to the untrained palate. Oolong tea is extremely popular in China and it is the brand that you will find most often in Chinese restaurants. Oolong is a great tea to use as a base for your budding tea collection, it contains the basic flavor and should give you a rough idea about what to expect from the other, more expensive teas.

Probably less well known than wine tasting, would be the art of tea tasting. Tea tasting is just as intricate as the alcoholic version, and oddly enough, after water has been strained through the tea leaves, the resulting liquid is referred to as tea liquor. Tea is said to have three different flavor dimensions, the foreground, middle ground, and then background flavor, these three aspects then fuse to create the overall taste. While perhaps the recreational drinker of tea does not debate the astringency, biscuity, or brassyness of their cup of tea it is considered important to some.

The best thing about tea however, is that it is made to be relaxing. Whereas coffee is created for those that are always on the go, tea serves as a counterbalance to that. It's perfect for unwinding at any time of the day. So next time you're faced with a coffee pot at work or at home, skip it in lieu of a tea pot. A few years down the road your body will thank you.