A piping hot cup of tea is an essential part of the morning routine for many. Most of the focus goes on how much sugar is added or what kind of tea leaves are used, but the correct temperature rarely crosses minds. Drinking hot tea is normal, but how hot is too hot? Could the habit of sipping very hot tea carry any health risks?
The worry lies in how the steaming hot tea affects the food pipe. This makes one wonder about cancer risks too. Dr Ghosh explained, “When discussing the possible cancer risks of steaming hot tea, the primary concern is the oesophagus, or food pipe, rather than every type of throat cancer. The lining of the oesophagus is made up of epithelial cells that protect the underlying tissues. Drinking extremely hot liquids can cause injury to this lining, and repeated exposure may lead to recurring tissue damage and repair. So, this concern is not specific to tea or coffee. It can also be hot soup during winters. Any beverage that is at an extremely high temperature can damage the protective lining of the food pipe. Repeated irritation or damage to the food pipe’s protective lining raises worries about its long-term effects. Dr Ghosh clarified that while the body naturally repairs injured tissue, recurring damage and repair may play a role in changes associated with cancer.
His advice is simple: avoid drinking tea or other beverages that are hot enough to burn your mouth or throat. Allow your drink to cool to a comfortable temperature before sipping, and avoid making a habit of drinking very hot beverages. He also reminded that oesophageal cancer has multiple risk factors, including tobacco use and alcohol consumption.
