Do Very Hot Drinks Raise the Risk of Cancer?
Yes, drinks that are very hot probably do. The World Health Organization's cancer agency, IARC, classified "drinking very hot beverages" (above 65°C) as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) in 2016, linked to cancer of the oesophagus (food pipe). The risk comes from the temperature, not from tea or coffee themselves, so the simple fix is to let drinks cool for a few minutes before you drink them.
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This is general information, not medical advice.
What the evidence actually says
In June 2016, a working group of international scientists convened by IARC reviewed the research on coffee, maté and very hot drinks (IARC/WHO announcement via PAHO). They concluded:
- Drinking very hot beverages (above 65°C) is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), based on studies linking it to oesophageal cancer.
- Coffee itself was not classifiable as a cause of cancer (Group 3), and the evidence did not show it causes cancer at normal drinking temperatures.
- Maté drunk at normal temperatures was also put in Group 3; the concern was maté drunk very hot, as is traditional in parts of South America.
Much of the evidence came from places where people commonly drink tea or maté at very high temperatures, such as parts of South America, Iran, Turkey and East Africa.
What "Group 2A" does and doesn't mean
IARC groups describe how strong the evidence is that something can cause cancer, not how much it raises your risk. Group 2A means there is limited evidence in humans plus stronger supporting evidence from other studies. Red meat is in the same group.
So "probably carcinogenic" doesn't mean a hot cup of tea will give you cancer. It means very hot drinks, regularly, are a likely risk factor for one type of cancer, and the risk is easy to reduce.
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Why heat might matter
The leading explanation is repeated thermal injury: very hot liquid can damage the lining of the oesophagus, and repeated damage and repair over years may make cancer more likely. The NHS lists drinking very hot drinks among the things that may raise the risk of oesophageal cancer, alongside much bigger factors such as smoking and alcohol (NHS: oesophageal cancer).
How hot is "very hot"?
65°C is hotter than most people find comfortable to sip. Tea or coffee made with water straight off the boil and drunk immediately can be well above that. Some practical points:
- Freshly boiled water is about 100°C, and a drink stays very hot for several minutes after pouring.
- Adding a splash of milk or cold water brings the temperature down quickly.
- If it hurts or you have to sip it in tiny amounts to avoid scalding, it's probably too hot.
Simple ways to lower the risk
- Wait a few minutes. Let chai, tea, coffee or soup cool before drinking. Five minutes on the counter makes a big difference.
- Add milk or a little cold water if you drink tea or coffee black.
- Don't gulp hot drinks in a hurry; sip once they're comfortable.
- Pay attention to habit. People who drink several cups a day straight off the boil have the most to gain from waiting.
- Keep the bigger picture in mind. For oesophageal cancer, stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol and keeping a healthy weight matter far more than drink temperature.
When to see a doctor
Don't ignore symptoms. Speak to your GP if you have difficulty swallowing, food feeling stuck, persistent heartburn or indigestion, unexplained weight loss, or pain when swallowing, as the NHS advises for oesophageal cancer. Most of the time these are caused by something less serious, but they should be checked.
Key takeaways
- IARC classes drinking very hot drinks (above 65°C) as probably cancer-causing (Group 2A) for the oesophagus.
- Tea and coffee themselves are not the problem; the temperature is.
- Letting drinks cool for a few minutes or adding milk lowers the risk easily.
- Smoking, alcohol and excess weight are much larger risk factors for oesophageal cancer.
- See a GP about swallowing problems or persistent heartburn.
FAQ
Is coffee linked to cancer?
According to the 2016 IARC review, coffee itself was not classifiable as causing cancer (Group 3). The concern is drinking any beverage very hot, not coffee as such.
Does this apply to hot soup and other foods?
The IARC evaluation was about very hot beverages. The same common-sense rule applies to anything you eat or drink: if it's hot enough to scald, let it cool first.
I've drunk very hot tea for years. Should I worry?
Worrying won't help, but changing the habit from today is easy and worthwhile. If you have symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or persistent heartburn, see your GP. If you smoke or drink heavily, cutting down will usually do more for your risk than anything else.
If you want a calm, evidence-based plan for the everyday habits that matter most, with screening checklists by age and country, Lower Your Risk puts it all in one place.
More playbooks on other topics: https://www.asendify.co/books/
The Playbook for Cutting Your Cancer Risk. £600.00 one-time, instant download.