A pleasant cup of sizzling tea is ideal for warming up on chilly days, for sitting down for a chat with pals, or for self-soothing when coping with stress.
Certainly, with its quite a few well being advantages and cultural significance, it’s no surprise that tea is the preferred beverage on the planet after water. Greater than 2 billion folks drink it each day (
Nonetheless, there are some risks to consuming tea that’s too sizzling, together with an elevated threat of some varieties of most cancers in addition to burns.
This text tells you all the things it’s essential learn about the advantages and disadvantages of consuming sizzling tea.
The tea aisle of your grocery retailer could seem overwhelming at first. There are such a lot of choices to browse, from inexperienced tea to Earl Grey.
There are various variations among the many varieties of tea in the marketplace.
True teas
“True” teas are brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub, which is native to China and East Asia (
There are various varieties of true teas. Variations stem from the subspecies of plant, the scale of the leaves, the time the leaves have been picked, the way in which the leaves have been processed, blends of various sorts, and the addition or infusion of varied aromas and flavors (3).
There are six fundamental varieties of true teas, categorised by the processing of the leaves (
- White. Younger leaf buds are plucked whereas they nonetheless have silvery or white hairs on them and rapidly dried.
- Inexperienced. Inexperienced leaves are picked after which heated to forestall them from discoloring.
- Yellow. The leaves are allowed to wither and yellow after being picked and are then dried.
- Oolong. The leaves are wilted within the solar, bruised, and partially oxidized.
- Black. The leaves are wilted, crushed, and totally oxidized.
- Submit-fermented tea. That is inexperienced tea that has been fermented and aged, corresponding to pu-erh tea.
Tea could also be drunk plain with simply sizzling water or with additions corresponding to milk, cream, honey, sugar, lemon, or herbs and spices. It might even be discovered as iced tea or immediate tea.
Natural teas
Teas not constituted of the Camellia sinensis plant are sometimes known as natural teas or tisanes (
These embody infusions of herbs, spices, fruits, and different elements of crops, corresponding to leaves, flowers, buds, roots, and bark (
Throughout many cultures, natural teas have been used as medicines. They boast quite a lot of purported well being advantages. A few of these claims are supported by trendy science, whereas others lack proof (
Some widespread varieties of natural tea are peppermint, chamomile, fennel, sage, raspberry leaf, lemon, rosehip, nettle, cinnamon, rooibos, ginger, rose, and lavender.
Abstract
True teas — together with inexperienced, yellow, white, oolong, black, and post-fermented teas — are brewed from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis shrub. Natural teas are constituted of different crops, corresponding to herbs, spices, flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, and bark.
Tea incorporates disease-preventing vitamins
Tea doesn’t include any important portions of energy or macronutrients.
Nonetheless, it does include highly effective antioxidants and health-promoting compounds, primarily from polyphenols — substances present in crops, corresponding to catechins (
Unsweetened green teas and black teas are the kinds most studied for his or her well being advantages. Most of these tea might (
- Assist stop some cancers. Consuming black tea is related to a 21% lowered threat of dying from most cancers basically, and consuming 1 cup per day of inexperienced tea is related to an 11% decreased threat of endometrial most cancers (
9 ,10 ) - Cut back the danger of coronary heart illness. Two cups of tea per day might scale back the danger of growing coronary heart illness, and three cups of inexperienced tea per day might scale back the danger of cardiac dying by 26% (
11 ,12 ,13 ). - Decrease blood stress. Common consumption of tea might marginally reduce blood pressure (
14 ,15 ). - Cut back the danger of growing sort 2 diabetes. Consuming 4 cups of tea per day has been discovered to scale back the danger of sort 2 diabetes by 10% (
16 ). - Assist stop weight problems. Consuming tea is related to decrease physique fats. Black tea polyphenols might assist stop weight problems, and inexperienced tea might assist increase metabolism (
17 ,18 ,19 ,20 ). - Enhance mind well being. Consuming tea might scale back the danger of melancholy and neurodegenerative circumstances corresponding to Alzheimer’s illness (
21 ,22 ,23 ).
A wide range of natural teas are additionally linked to well being advantages corresponding to:
Nonetheless, whereas the analysis appears promising, most of the research which have been carried out are small. We’d like extra analysis earlier than we will make certain that consuming sizzling tea is helpful to well being.
Scorching tea might shield towards glaucoma
Glaucoma is a bunch of eye circumstances which might be the main reason for irreversible blindness on the planet (
Inhabitants research have linked consuming sizzling tea to a decrease incidence of glaucoma (
In a survey of 1,678 folks, researchers discovered that individuals who drank no less than 1 cup of sizzling tea per day have been 74% much less prone to have glaucoma than those that didn’t drink it (
One other examine discovered that consuming 2 cups of tea per day was related to an 18% decrease threat of glaucoma (
Curiously, there was no important impact for decaffeinated sizzling tea or iced tea. The constructive results are possible as a result of varieties of flavonoids present in true tea, which are usually current in a lot decrease ranges in decaffeinated and iced teas (
Whereas these outcomes are promising, extra research are wanted to determine whether or not and the way sizzling tea might scale back the danger of glaucoma.
It might positively affect temper
It’s a typical perception {that a} sizzling cup of tea has emotional advantages corresponding to leisure and psychological readability (
In truth, consuming tea repeatedly has been linked to a 30% decrease threat of melancholy (
Curiously, it’s thought that parts of true tea, together with caffeine, teasaponin, L-theanine, and polyphenols, can affect the mind by decreasing irritation, appearing on neural pathways, and modulating mood-affecting hormones corresponding to dopamine (
Furthermore, the precise act of making ready and consuming the tea might have constructive results on temper (
A few of tea’s mood-boosting results in all probability stem from the motion of taking a break to arrange it and the anticipation of having fun with it. Different causes possible come right down to the sensory experiences of the tea and the cultural function tea performs in lots of populations (
Moreover, it may very well be that small constructive day by day actions, corresponding to making a cup of tea, accumulate over time and contribute to the prevention of melancholy (
Nonetheless, extra analysis continues to be wanted to find out exactly how sizzling tea can have an effect on temper (
It might assist maintain you heat
Some researchers suggest that the human stomach incorporates temperature receptors. Due to this fact, consuming a sizzling beverage corresponding to tea might have an effect on your physique’s response to temperatures (
One examine discovered that consuming sizzling water at 126°F (52°C) can scale back shivering for 10 minutes, which can be helpful when working and exercising in chilly circumstances (
Abstract
Consuming sizzling fluids corresponding to tea might assist scale back shivering in chilly circumstances. Plant compounds within the heat, soothing drink may alleviate melancholy signs, increase temper, shield eye well being, and assist stop some well being circumstances.
Tea that’s too sizzling will increase the danger of esophageal most cancers
A major quantity of scientific proof hyperlinks consuming tea that’s too sizzling with the event of esophageal cancer, particularly in individuals who smoke and drink alcohol (
It’s thought that tea hotter than 140–149°F (60–65°C) might blanch the cells that line the esophagus, leaving them extra weak to wreck from cancer-causing substances (
Each black and inexperienced teas seem to extend threat of most cancers when drunk too sizzling, however when drunk at lower than 149°F (65°C), green tea seems to have a protecting impact (
Though extra analysis is required to find out the precise temperature cutoff to scale back threat, when you drink sizzling tea, you will need to let it cool to under 140°F (60°C) earlier than consuming.
Scorching tea could cause burns
Tea is normally brewed with very popular or boiling water and continues to be round 191–196°F (91–90°C) when served (
Because of this whether it is spilled, it might trigger important, scalding burns.
Younger youngsters and older adults could also be significantly prone to burns on account of having thinner pores and skin and smaller physique measurement. Scorching water is the principle reason for burns in youngsters ages 6–24 months and in adults over age 65 (
Due to this fact, it’s essential to watch out when making ready tea and ideally to let it cool earlier than serving.
The authors of 1 examine suggest serving tea at 130–160°F (54–71°C) to take care of palatability, however I might recommend preserving consuming temperatures under 140°F (60°C) (
Tea incorporates caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant naturally present in tea, espresso, cocoa, yerba mate, and quite a lot of different crops (
It might have both positive and negative health results relying on the individual, the supply, and the quantity (
Some populations might wish to scale back or keep away from consumption of caffeine, corresponding to folks delicate to caffeine, folks with liver illness or coronary heart illness, pregnant or breastfeeding folks, youngsters, and kids (
Adults are suggested to restrict their caffeine consumption to 400 mg per day (
Above this degree, it may possibly result in detrimental results corresponding to restlessness, nervousness, intestine issues, muscle tremors, irritability, and adjustments in coronary heart rhythm (
The quantity of caffeine in a cup of true tea is determined by the kind.
For instance, 1 cup (8 fluid ounces, or 237 mL) of brewed inexperienced tea incorporates 29.4 grams of caffeine, whereas 1 cup of black tea incorporates 47.4 mg. Nonetheless, these quantities fluctuate relying on the precise mix and brewing time (
For those who select to keep away from caffeine, you’ll be able to go for decaffeinated teas. Many natural teas, corresponding to peppermint, chamomile, and ginger teas, are naturally caffeine-free.
Abstract
Consuming tea that’s too sizzling will increase the danger of burns and esophageal most cancers. You should definitely let tea cool to under 140°F (60°C) earlier than consuming it. Moreover, true tea incorporates caffeine, which has detrimental results in excessive doses in sure populations.
To get pleasure from sizzling tea, first choose both a real tea or an natural tea that you just wish to attempt. Some frequent varieties are English breakfast, Earl Gray, Darjeeling, sencha, peppermint, and chamomile.
The temperature and time for brewing will fluctuate relying on the tea mix you utilize.
For instance, black tea is ready with almost-boiling water and brewed for two–5 minutes, whereas the extra delicate white tea is greatest brewed at 158–167°F (70–75°C) for 1–3 minutes.
Most teas will include directions on the most effective temperature and brewing time to make use of.
As soon as the tea is brewed, pour it right into a teacup or mug and let it cool. Don’t depart the tea brewing too lengthy, or it might flip bitter.
For those who’re uncertain when the tea is cool sufficient to drink, think about using a cooking thermometer to double-check that it has cooled to no less than 140°F (60°C).
Notably, adding milk and sugar to tea might decrease the exercise of health-promoting antioxidants (
Due to this fact, it might be greatest to drink your tea plain. However it’s best to experiment with totally different blends and flavorings to discover a tea to fit your style.
Abstract
To brew tea, choose a sort and brew the leaves on the specified temperature and time. Pour right into a cup and let cool to under 140°F (60°C) earlier than having fun with.
Scorching tea is a scrumptious beverage that is available in many sorts and flavors.
It additionally has many well being advantages, together with highly effective antioxidants which might be linked to prevention of a number of ailments and promotion of fine psychological well being.
Nonetheless, take care when making ready and consuming sizzling tea, and ideally let it cool to 140°F (60°C) or under earlier than serving to scale back the danger of burns and cancers.