What you may have heard
Frequent consumption of very hot beverages, like tea and maté, can raise your risk of developing esophageal cancer.
What the science tells us
Repeatedly drinking hot beverages can damage the lining of the esophagus, which may increase the risk of cancer over time. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies drinks hotter than 65°C or 149°F as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). This means that high temperatures, not the drink itself, may impact cancer risk. The type of esophageal cancer most often associated with very hot beverages is squamous cell carcinoma.
Epidemiological Evidence
Most observational studies have been conducted in populations that frequently drink very hot beverages and suggest that the cancer risk increases with temperature.
- A meta-analysis of observational studies found a significantly increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma among people who drank hot tea (Luo et al.).
- A case-control study in Kenya reported that drinkers of “very hot” and “hot” beverages had 3.7 and 1.4 times the odds, respectively, of developing esophageal cancer compared to warm beverage drinkers (Middleton et al.).
- A 2025 cohort study in the United Kingdom also observed an increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma among those who drank very hot tea and coffee (Inoue-Choi et al.). The risk rose with the number of cups consumed per day.
Laboratory Evidence/Supporting Evidence
A laboratory study found that drinking very hot water (70°C) promoted the development of early abnormal growths called premalignant lesions in the esophagus of rats, which could increase cancer risk (Rapozo et al.).
How to reduce your risk
Let hot beverages cool for a few minutes before drinking and avoid sipping anything that feels uncomfortably hot. If it burns your mouth, it could irritate the lining of your esophagus.
Bottom line
Regularly drinking beverages hotter than 65°C (149°F) may raise the risk of esophageal cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma. The concerns are linked to the temperature, not the type of drink. While serving temperatures vary worldwide, it is safest to let hot beverages cool before drinking to reduce your risk.