Can Drinking Tea Lower Your Body Temperature?

October 29, 2025 •

4 min read

Research suggests that drinking a hot beverage can trigger a sweat response, which helps cool the body. This response addresses the question of whether tea can lower body temperature, but its effectiveness relies on the environment.

Quick Summary

Hot tea can lower body temperature by promoting sweat production in specific conditions. The evaporation of sweat cools the skin, reducing heat storage. This is most effective in dry climates where sweat evaporates easily, but it is less effective in high humidity.

Key Points

Evaporative Cooling: Drinking hot tea triggers increased sweating, and the evaporation of this sweat is the primary mechanism for lowering body temperature.
Environmental Factors are Key: The cooling effect is most effective in hot, dry climates where sweat can evaporate efficiently; it is less effective in high humidity.
Initial vs. Long-Term Effects: While hot tea may feel warm initially, it leads to a greater net heat loss than a cold drink, which can temporarily suppress sweating.
Herbal Choices: Specific herbs like peppermint contain menthol, which creates a natural cooling sensation, enhancing the refreshing experience.
Hydration is Crucial: As hot tea increases sweat production, it's essential to stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water alongside it.

The Science of Sweating: How Hot Tea Cools You Down

Drinking a hot beverage, such as tea, initially causes a slight increase in core body temperature. This triggers the body's natural cooling mechanism, known as thermoregulation, to work more efficiently. A key part of this process is sweating. Here’s a step-by-step look at what happens when you sip a warm cup of tea:

Stimulation of Nerves: Heat-sensitive receptors in the mouth and upper digestive tract are activated by the warmth of the tea.
Signal to the Brain: These receptors send a signal to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature.
Increased Sweating: The hypothalamus then stimulates the sweat glands across the body, particularly on the face, head, and hands, to increase perspiration.
Evaporative Cooling: As this sweat evaporates from the skin, it draws heat away from the body, causing a powerful cooling effect.

This method is a far more effective long-term cooling strategy than the momentary relief offered by cold drinks, which can suppress sweating and trick the body into conserving heat. However, for this process to be successful, the sweat must evaporate. In hot and humid environments, where the air is already saturated with moisture, sweat may not evaporate efficiently, and the cooling effect will be minimal or non-existent.

The Impact of Climate on Tea's Cooling Effect

The surrounding environment plays a decisive role in whether a hot drink will cool someone down. Here is a breakdown of how humidity affects the process:

Low Humidity / Dry Heat: In dry climates, sweat evaporates quickly and efficiently. This allows the evaporative cooling triggered by hot tea to work optimally, leading to a noticeable and effective reduction in body temperature. This is why sipping hot tea is a common practice in many desert regions around the world.
High Humidity: In humid conditions, the air is already full of moisture, making it difficult for sweat to evaporate. When you drink hot tea in this environment, you increase your sweat production, but if it simply drips off your skin instead of evaporating, the cooling benefit is lost, and someone may even feel hotter.

Comparison of Hot vs. Cold Beverages for Cooling


Feature	Hot Tea	Cold Tea / Iced Drinks
Initial Sensation	Warming effect	Immediate, but temporary, cooling sensation
Thermoregulation Trigger	Activates body's natural cooling mechanisms (sweating)	Delays or reduces sweating by tricking the body into thinking it's cool
Long-Term Cooling	More effective in dry climates due to efficient evaporative cooling	Less effective long-term; body may work harder to warm the cold liquid
Best Climate	Hot, dry environments where sweat can evaporate easily	Less effective in humid heat for cooling; offers temporary relief
Digestion	Does not require extra energy for temperature regulation	Requires the body to expend energy to warm the liquid

Specific Teas and Herbs with Cooling Properties

Besides the physiological effects of temperature, some teas and herbs are traditionally considered to have cooling properties based on their composition. Incorporating these into your beverage can enhance the refreshing effect.

Peppermint: The menthol in peppermint creates a cooling sensation in the mouth and throat by stimulating cold-sensitive nerve receptors, providing instant relief.
Green Tea: Minimally processed green teas are often regarded as cooling in traditional medicine systems. They contain antioxidants and can provide a refreshing lift.
Hibiscus: This floral tea is naturally cooling and has a tart, fruity flavor. It is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
Chamomile: Known for its calming effects, chamomile tea is also considered to have cooling properties and can be soothing during a fever.
Lemongrass: This citrusy, refreshing herb is a perfect choice for a cooling summertime beverage.

Practical Tips for Using Tea to Beat the Heat

To maximize the cooling benefits of tea, consider these practical tips:

Sip, Don't Gulp: Drinking hot or lukewarm tea slowly allows the body time to respond with the sweating mechanism, avoiding any initial shock.
Stay Hydrated: Increased sweating means you need to replenish fluids. Always drink plenty of water alongside your tea to prevent dehydration.
Choose the Right Clothing: Wear loose, breathable, light-colored clothing made from natural fibers like cotton to help sweat evaporate from your skin.
Consider Cold Brews: In humid climates or for those who simply prefer a cold drink, cold-brewing green or white tea provides a refreshing beverage without the initial heat load, though it won't activate the same physiological cooling response as a hot beverage.
Try Herbal Infusions: For maximum cooling sensation, steep herbs like peppermint, lemongrass, or hibiscus and serve chilled over ice.

Conclusion: The Nuanced Relationship Between Tea and Body Temperature

The belief that drinking hot tea can lower body temperature is a scientifically supported physiological process. By triggering a robust sweating response, hot tea can effectively cool the body through evaporative cooling, especially in dry, low-humidity environments. The key is the efficient evaporation of sweat, which draws heat away from the skin. In humid conditions, however, cold drinks might provide more immediate, if less sustained, relief. Ultimately, whether hot or cold, staying hydrated with tea remains a beneficial practice. The surprising effect of hot tea simply provides an alternative, culturally rich method for staying cool, rooted in centuries of tradition in hot climates. The right choice depends on your environment and personal preference, but the power of tea to influence thermoregulation is clear.

Can You Use Tea to Break a Fever?

When dealing with a fever, staying hydrated is crucial. While the evaporative cooling effect of hot tea works for general temperature regulation, certain herbal teas are recommended to support the body during a fever, often by promoting rest and hydration. Peppermint and chamomile are often cited for their soothing properties, but they are not a substitute for medical advice or prescribed medication. Always consult a healthcare professional for persistent high body temperature or illness.

A Note on Outbound Links

For more information on the thermoregulatory effects of hot and cold beverages, you can consult research from the University of Ottawa's School of Human Kinetics, which has conducted studies on this topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

In dry climates, drinking hot tea causes a slight rise in core body temperature, which triggers an increase in sweat production. As the sweat evaporates from your skin, it cools your body down effectively through a process called evaporative cooling.

In humid environments, the air is already saturated with moisture, which prevents sweat from evaporating efficiently. When you drink hot tea, you will still sweat, but without evaporation, the cooling effect is lost, and you may end up feeling hotter.

Cold drinks provide an immediate but short-lived sensation of coolness. However, this sensation can cause the body to reduce sweating, which is its most effective long-term cooling mechanism. In dry heat, hot drinks often lead to a greater overall reduction in body heat.

Evaporative cooling is the process where a liquid (in this case, sweat) turns into a gas (water vapor) and draws heat from the surface it is evaporating from. By increasing your sweat rate, hot tea leverages this process to cool your body more efficiently.

Teas like peppermint, green tea, and hibiscus are often recommended for their cooling properties. Peppermint, in particular, contains menthol, which stimulates cold receptors for an extra refreshing feeling. In Chinese medicine, green and some oolong teas are also considered cooling.

No, it is not a myth. The practice is backed by scientific studies showing that in the right environmental conditions (dry heat), drinking hot beverages can activate the body's thermoregulatory system to achieve a net cooling effect.

While staying hydrated with fluids like tea is helpful when you have a fever, certain herbal teas like chamomile and peppermint are generally recommended for their soothing properties rather than for directly reducing high body temperature. Always consult a doctor for advice on managing a fever.