Is the risk linked to tea and coffee themselves or to their temperature?

The findings suggest that temperature may be the important factor, rather than tea or coffee itself. Repeated exposure to very hot liquids could injure the cells lining the oesophagus.

Does drinking more tea or coffee also affect oesophageal cancer risk?

People who drank six or more cups a day had a 71% higher risk of oesophageal SCC than those who drank fewer than three cups daily. However, this association does not show that drinking six cups automatically causes cancer.

Should people stop drinking tea or coffee?

Not necessarily. The practical advice from the findings is to allow drinks to cool and avoid consuming them while they are hot enough to burn the mouth or throat.

Could Drinking Your Tea and Coffee Too Hot Raise Cancer Risk? Scientists Say It May Triple the Risk

Q: Does drinking very hot tea or coffee increase the risk of oesophageal cancer?

The study found that people who regularly drank very hot tea or coffee had about three times the risk of developing oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared with those who drank them warm. However, it was an observational study and cannot prove that hot drinks directly caused the cancer.

Q: How hot is considered \'very hot\'?

The study did not measure the exact temperature of participants\' drinks. However, very hot beverages are generally considered to be around 65°C or above, a temperature previously highlighted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

For many people, a steaming cup of tea or coffee is part of the daily routine. But new research suggests that how hot the drink is when you consume it could matter for your long-term health.

A large UK study involving nearly 1 million adults found that people who regularly drank very hot tea or coffee had about three times the risk of developing oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), compared with those who preferred their drinks warm.

The findings do not mean that tea or coffee itself causes cancer. Instead, the researchers believe temperature may be the important factor.

How Hot Is Too Hot?

The study, published in the International Journal of Cancer, analysed data from 977,282 people participating in the UK Million Women Study and UK Biobank.

Participants reported whether they generally consumed their tea or coffee at a warm, hot, or very hot temperature. During an average follow-up of more than 11 years in the UK Biobank and 14 years in the Million Women Study, researchers identified 2,348 cases of oesophageal cancer, including 1,045 cases of SCC.

Those who preferred their drinks 'very hot' had a 3.17-fold higher risk of oesophageal SCC than people who drank them warm. Drinking them 'hot' was also associated with an increased risk.

The researchers did not measure the exact temperature of each participant's drink. However, very hot beverages are generally considered to be around 65°C or above, a temperature previously highlighted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Why Could Heat Damage the Oesophagus?

The oesophagus, or food pipe, carries food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. Repeated exposure to very hot liquids could cause thermal injury to the cells lining the oesophagus.

Over time, repeated injury and repair may contribute to inflammation and cellular changes that increase the likelihood of cancer developing.

Importantly, the association was specific to oesophageal SCC. Researchers did not find a similar relationship between drink temperature and oesophageal adenocarcinoma, another major form of oesophageal cancer.

Does Drinking More Hot Drinks Also Matter?

Temperature was not the only factor associated with risk. People who consumed six or more cups of tea or coffee a day had a 71% higher risk of oesophageal SCC compared with those who drank fewer than six cups daily, according to the research.

However, this does not mean that drinking six cups of tea or coffee automatically causes cancer. The study was observational, meaning it can identify associations but cannot prove that hot drinks directly caused the disease.

Other established risk factors, including smoking and alcohol consumption, remain important considerations when assessing oesophageal cancer risk.

Should You Stop Drinking Tea and Coffee?

Not necessarily. The findings suggest that allowing tea or coffee to cool before drinking could be a simple way to reduce repeated heat exposure to the oesophagus. The researchers concluded that reducing drink temperature could potentially help prevent some cases of oesophageal SCC.

For most people, the practical takeaway is not to give up their favourite beverages, but to avoid drinking them while they are hot enough to burn the mouth or throat.

So, if your freshly brewed tea or coffee is still steaming, waiting a few minutes before taking the first sip could be a worthwhile habit. The concern appears to be the temperature, rather than whether the drink is tea or coffee itself.