It is a longstanding occurrence in many parts of the world that the daily sipping of very hot tea and coffee is a cherished tradition. Though, increasing scientific research suggests that drinking very hot liquids as a regular hot tip-off might be a real health concern, with the prevention of oesophageal cancer being notably. The reasons for concern are the levels of heat in the drinks, not the tea and coffee themselves.
In 2016 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, officially recognized that drinking beverages above 65C (149F), also classed as very hot drinks, was “probably carcinogenic to humans, citing evidence from South America, Asia, and the Middle Eastsettled by studies of people habitually drinking mat or tea at around 70C” which showed a consistent association, there has been an elevated risk of developing over two million esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, the most prevalent type of oesophageal cancer globally, reported. Data from animal models provided experimental confirmation that treatment with very hot liquids can promote the development of tumors by causing thermal injury.
A large 2026 study has further confirmed this in a Western population. This UK based study recruited and followed up almost 1 million individuals over the age of 2627. The participants were asked whether they drank tea and coffee “very hot”, “hot”, or “warm”. After more than ten years of follow up, drinking tea or coffee “very hot” was linked to an orange 3-fold increase in risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma when compared to drinking warm.
Those drinking “hot” experienced even a higher near 2-fold risk compared to warm. The risk was increased by 71% in individuals drinking 6 or more hot drinks a day individually, regardless of temperature preference. No such association was detected for esophageal adenocarcinoma. The biological reasoning seems very simple. So-hot liquid can repeatedly injure the fragile inner lining of the oesophagus. That repeated injury results in a long standing inflammatory response and chemical changes to the cells that can in time produce cancer.
Since it is the heat that causes the injury, and not something in the tea or coffee, then the same precaution as for drinking very hot tea or coffee may be appropriate.9 ;In many countries the real risk of injury is relatively low, and the real risk factors of smoking tobacco and heavy drinking alcohol remain much greater for oesophageal cancer than hot drink alone. Still, the results should suggest that a new way of preventing some squamous cell carcinomas is to decrease the temperature of drinks.
Small practical measures to minimize chances of injury are simple to implement and will hardly require any self-control or restriction. For instance, it is often sufficient to wait a few minutes for the tea or coffee you just made to cool enough not to your mouth and feel just the right amount. In many cases, you can bring down the temperature even faster by adding a bit of milk or a spoonful of cold water.
Generally speaking, the temperature of a good beverage should be slightly above room temperature, and most people notice that the real flavor of a tea or coffee comes through once it has cooled to such an extent. Taking small precautionary habits that will minimize the risk of getting burnt by a hot drink can still be enjoying the tea and coffee without hurting the esophagus too much.
In short, the available findings strongly suggest that drinking extremely hot liquids increases the risk of esophageal cancer, mostly one type. By waiting till beverages have cooled slightly, people can prevent health issues while keeping their beloved routines.
Disclaimer: The content of this post is solely for informative purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice. It cannot in any way take the place of professional medical expertise or treatment. Please remember that no health information on the Internet should be considered as substitutes for medical advice or consultation with a trained physician or other licensed health professionals. You are always expected to check with your physician or another trained health professional if you believe or suspect any symptoms that are health-related.
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