As the weather gets colder, many people warm up by sipping a steaming cup of tea. But is it really good to drink tea when it's too hot? Let's take a look…
In September 2011, the renowned British journal British Medicine published a study titled “Drinking Tea at Temperatures Above 69°C Increases the Risk of Esophageal Cancer.” This report caused a significant stir in Europe, where black tea is widely consumed. Researchers surveyed 48,582 residents to investigate the relationship between drinking hot tea and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Based on data from 300 esophageal cancer patients, they found that while these individuals regularly drank black tea, the risk of developing esophageal cancer was not related to the quantity of tea but rather its temperature. The study results showed: People who drank tea at 70°C or higher had an eightfold higher risk of esophageal cancer compared to the general population; those who drank tea at 65-69°C had twice the risk of those who drank tea below 65°C; and drinking tea within two minutes of brewing was five times more dangerous than waiting four minutes.
In fact, the key to the optimal drinking temperature of tea is not the temperature itself but the tolerance of the esophageal and gastric mucosa. According to medical experts, the outermost layer of the esophagus is composed of mucosa, which is a membranous structure made up of epithelial and connective tissue that can secrete mucus, acting as the first line of defense for the human immune system. However, it is very delicate and can only withstand temperatures between 50-60°C. Freshly brewed tea has a temperature as high as 80-90°C.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the ideal temperature for drinking tea is “warm,” meaning neither hot nor cold, with a gentle nature, making it most suitable for consumption. Additionally, TCM theory suggests that the health effects of drinking the same cup of tea can vary greatly depending on whether it is drunk hot or cold. Cold tea, when ingested, does not have the effect of clearing heat and resolving phlegm but instead has the side effect of generating coldness and accumulating phlegm. Hot tea, when ingested, uses the body's internal heat to disperse the tea's cool nature, providing temporary clarity and refreshment. However, drinking warm tea yields the best results, as the tea's nature helps to descend the body's internal heat, which is then expelled through urine, in the most natural and healthy manner.
Based on the above analysis, and considering that tea drinking can vary from person to person, it might be difficult to provide a precise numerical standard for the ideal drinking temperature. However, one point should be clear: tea is best enjoyed warm, ideally after waiting four minutes following brewing. Tea enthusiasts should consider the tolerance of their esophageal mucosa and opt for drinking warm tea while enjoying the taste of tea.
