Tea that is too hot is harmful to your health: This temperature is critical.

A freshly brewed cup of tea is part of everyday life for many people. But those who drink it too hot could be harming their health, say researchers. The details.

Tea is widely considered a healthy beverage, rich in flavor, soothing, and firmly established in many cultures. However, recent research is highlighting a less considered factor: the temperature of your teacup. According to a comprehensive analysis, people who consume their tea very hot – well above 60°C – may have twice the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) now classifies drinking very hot beverages above 65°C as "probably carcinogenic." For you, this means that it's not the tea itself, but the very high temperature that could be a factor.

Recommended reading: Harmful? How tea changes when it steeps for too long

What do the studies say?

A meta-analysis of 12 case-control studies with over 5,000 cases showed that those who drank hot tea had an approximately twofold increased risk of esophageal cancer (odds ratio ≈ 2.04, 95% CI: 1.78–2.31).

In the so-called "Golestan Cohort Study" in northeastern Iran, around 50,000 people were observed for ten years. Those who drank ≥ 700 ml of tea daily at ≥ 60 °C had approximately a 90% increased risk of ESCC compared with those who drank < 700 ml at < 60 °C.

The IARC highlighted that it may not be the drink itself, but rather the high temperature, that could be the decisive factor – especially with regular consumption of very hot drinks.

How should the risk be assessed?

First, it's important to note that esophageal cancer is relatively rare in Western countries. While studies show a significant link between very hot drinks and an increased risk, the actual extent of the risk depends heavily on the individual's baseline risk.

It's important to note that many studies come from regions with a high baseline risk of ESCC – such as northeastern Iran and parts of China. Drinking habits there (for example, extremely hot tea in large quantities) differ from those in Europe.

Furthermore, it should be noted that hot drinks alone are not considered the decisive cause. Rather, the heat, in combination with other risk factors such as smoking or alcohol consumption, appears to amplify the effect.

This means that those who occasionally enjoy a hot cup of tea don't need to worry too much; however, it's still worth paying attention to the temperature.

Why might temperature play a role?

The theory is that very hot drinks can repeatedly irritate or slightly damage the esophagus's lining (thermal stress). Over the years, such irritations could promote cell changes that can lead to cancer.

Furthermore, drinking very hot tea in large gulps exposes the esophagus to greater heat. A recent analysis identifies temperatures above approximately 65 °C as a critical threshold.

Therefore, what matters is not the type of tea, but how hot, how much, and how quickly it is drunk.

Practical tips for your tea enjoyment

To ensure you can enjoy your tea without compromise, here are some recommendations:

• Let your tea cool for a few minutes before drinking it. Target temperatures below approximately 60°C are considered significantly safer.
• Drink in smaller sips instead of large "gulps" – this way, less heat is carried into the esophagus.
• If you already have other risk factors (e.g., heavy alcohol or tobacco consumption), then temperature management could be even more important.
• Pay attention to signals from your body: recurring throat/pharynx irritation, difficulty swallowing, or burning should be checked by a doctor.
• Be aware: Tea itself is not the “cause of cancer”, but a factor in a larger risk context.

Those who regularly drink excessively hot beverages increase their risk.

Enjoying tea can be part of a healthy lifestyle – but if you regularly drink it very hot, you could unknowingly be increasing your risk of esophageal cancer. Studies show that temperature and quantity make all the difference. By letting your tea cool down a bit and drinking it mindfully, you can at least reduce your risk – without having to forgo the pleasure of enjoying your tea.

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