For many people, a steaming cup of tea is one of life’s simple pleasures. Tea is rich in plant compounds, associated with relaxation, and has long been a cornerstone of wellness traditions around the world.

But emerging research suggests that when tea is consumed at very high temperatures, particularly alongside smoking or regular alcohol consumption, it may contribute to a significantly higher risk of oesophageal cancer.

Researchers analysed data from the China Kadoorie Biobank, a large population-based study involving more than 456,000 adults aged 30 to 79 years. Participants were followed for a median of 9.2 years, during which 1,731 new cases of oesophageal cancer were documented.

The study examined not only tea consumption but also the temperature at which tea was typically consumed, alongside established risk factors such as alcohol use and tobacco smoking.

A combined problem

The most striking finding was that drinking very hot or “burning hot” tea by itself was not the whole story. The greatest risks appeared when high-temperature tea drinking occurred together with alcohol consumption or smoking.

Compared with people who drank tea less than once a week and consumed little alcohol, participants who drank burning-hot tea daily and consumed 15 grams or more of alcohol per day had a fivefold higher risk of developing oesophageal cancer.

Similarly, current smokers who drank burning-hot tea every day had approximately double the risk of oesophageal cancer compared with those who did not share those habits.

Temperature matters

Researchers believe extremely hot beverages may repeatedly irritate or damage the lining of the oesophagus. When combined with chemical exposure from tobacco smoke or alcohol, this irritation could make tissues more vulnerable to cancer-causing effects. While the study did not prove cause and effect, the findings suggest a potentially harmful interaction between these lifestyle factors.

The good news for tea lovers is that the research does not suggest giving up tea altogether. Instead, it highlights the importance of how you consume tea.

A whole-food lifestyle emphasises supporting health through daily habits rather than focusing on any single food or beverage. In this context, the findings offer several practical lessons:

• Allow freshly brewed tea to cool before drinking.
• Avoid smoking, which remains one of the strongest preventable cancer risk factors.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Focus on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds that support overall health.
• Practice mindful eating and drinking rather than consuming foods and beverages at extreme temperatures.

Tea itself has long been appreciated as a nourishing beverage and remains an important part of many healthy lifestyles. However, this large prospective study suggests that consuming tea at very high temperatures, especially when combined with smoking or regular alcohol use, may substantially increase the risk of oesophageal cancer.

For those pursuing a whole-food, whole-life approach to wellness, the takeaway is simple: enjoy your tea, but give it a few minutes to cool. Sometimes the healthiest choice is also the most comfortable one.