Understanding What Happens if We Drink Tea with Honey

October 6, 2025 •

3 min read

For centuries, the pairing of tea and honey has been cherished for its soothing qualities and perceived health benefits. When considering what happens if we drink tea with honey, many are curious about the nutritional value and whether the heat of the tea impacts the honey's properties.

Quick Summary

This article discusses the nutritional profile of honey compared to other sweeteners, outlines the possible health advantages of combining tea and honey, and explains the effects of temperature on honey's beneficial compounds.

Key Points

Nutritional Value: Honey provides calories and carbohydrates, along with trace nutrients not found in refined sugar [1].
Heat Sensitivity: High temperatures can reduce the levels of beneficial enzymes and antioxidants in honey [4].
Sore Throat Relief: Warm tea with honey is a traditional remedy to help soothe sore throats [2].
Antioxidant Source: Both tea and honey contain antioxidants that contribute to cellular protection [3].
Moderation Advised: Consume honey in moderation due to its sugar and calorie content [1].
Optimal Addition: Waiting for tea to cool slightly before adding honey helps preserve its natural compounds [4].

The Nutritional Aspects of Honey in Tea

Exploring what happens if we drink tea with honey involves looking at the nutritional content of honey. Honey is a natural sweetener primarily composed of fructose and glucose, along with trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants [1]. While it contains more calories per tablespoon than refined sugar, its higher density and sweetness might mean you use less. Refined sugar, in contrast, offers calories without significant nutritional value.

Honey vs. Refined Sugar: A Comparison


Feature	Honey (Natural)	Refined Sugar
Primary Components	Fructose, Glucose, water	Sucrose
Nutrient Content	Trace vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants	Primarily carbohydrates ('empty calories')
Processing	Varies (raw vs. pasteurized); can retain natural compounds	Highly processed from sources like sugarcane or sugar beets
Taste Profile	Complex, varying by floral source	Pure sweetness
Glycemic Index	Generally lower than refined sugar	Higher

Potential Benefits of Combining Tea and Honey

Combining tea and honey is often linked to several health benefits, which can be influenced by the type of tea used and the quality of the honey. These potential advantages include:

Soothing effects: Warm tea with honey is a popular remedy for sore throats and coughs [2]. Honey's natural properties can help coat the throat, providing temporary relief.
Antioxidant contribution: Both tea and honey contain antioxidants, which help protect the body's cells from damage caused by free radicals [3]. The specific types and amounts of antioxidants vary depending on the tea and honey.
Energy source: As a natural carbohydrate source, honey can provide energy [1]. When added to tea, it offers a sweet boost.

The Effect of Heat on Honey

A common question regarding what happens if we drink tea with honey concerns the impact of heat on the honey itself. While heating honey does not make it toxic, high temperatures can affect some of its natural properties.

How Temperature Influences Honey

Enzyme activity: Honey contains natural enzymes that are sensitive to heat. Exposing honey to very high temperatures can reduce or destroy the activity of these enzymes [4].
Antioxidant levels: Similar to enzymes, the levels of some beneficial antioxidants in honey can decrease when heated to high temperatures [4].
Formation of HMF: Heating honey can lead to the formation of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). While low levels are naturally present in honey, higher temperatures and prolonged storage can increase HMF content [5]. The amount of HMF formed by adding honey to a typical hot cup of tea is generally considered minimal.

Considerations and Best Practices

While enjoying tea with honey can be part of a healthy diet, it's important to keep some considerations in mind:

Moderation: Honey is a source of sugar and calories. Consuming it in moderation is key, especially for individuals managing blood sugar levels or watching their calorie intake [1].
Choosing Honey: Raw or minimally processed honey is often preferred by those seeking to maximize potential health benefits, as it may retain more natural compounds [4].
Adding to Tea: To help preserve some of honey's heat-sensitive compounds, it may be beneficial to let your tea cool slightly before stirring in honey [4]. Adding honey to warm, rather than boiling, tea is a common practice.

Conclusion: Enjoying Tea with Honey Mindfully

Incorporating honey into your tea can offer a comforting experience and potential benefits, ranging from soothing a sore throat to contributing antioxidants to your diet. Understanding what happens if we drink tea with honey involves recognizing that while heating does not create toxins, extreme heat can diminish some of honey's natural enzymes and antioxidants. By choosing quality honey and adding it to tea that has cooled slightly, you can better enjoy the natural sweetness and potential advantages of this classic combination. As with any food or drink containing sugar, consuming tea with honey in moderation is advisable within a balanced diet. For dietary advice tailored to individual health needs, consulting a healthcare professional is always a good step.

How to Optimize Adding Honey to Tea

To better retain the natural qualities of honey when adding it to tea:

Brew your preferred tea as usual.
Remove the tea leaves or bag.
Allow the tea to cool from boiling to a comfortably warm temperature.
Stir in your desired amount of honey.

This approach helps ensure the tea is warm enough to dissolve the honey effectively without exposing it to excessively high temperatures for prolonged periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, adding honey to hot tea does not make it toxic. This is a common misconception.

While heat doesn't make honey toxic, high temperatures can reduce the levels of some heat-sensitive enzymes and antioxidants found in honey [4].

Adding honey to tea that has cooled slightly from boiling to a warm temperature is often recommended to help preserve some of its natural compounds [4].

Warm tea with honey is a traditional remedy often used to help soothe coughs and provide temporary relief for a sore throat [2].

Honey contains some trace nutrients not found in refined sugar and has a slightly different glycemic response, but it is still a source of sugar and should be consumed in moderation [1].

Yes, like any sweetener, honey adds sugar and calories to your diet. It's important to be mindful of the amount you use, especially if managing sugar intake or weight [1].

The choice of honey is often a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer raw or minimally processed honey for its potential natural compounds, but any type of honey can be used [4].

Yes, you can add honey to iced tea. It may help to dissolve the honey in a small amount of warm water first before adding it to the cold tea to ensure it mixes thoroughly.

The type of tea can affect the overall flavor and the combination of beneficial compounds in your drink. Different teas pair well with different honey varieties.