It’s a fair question. If you pour boiling lava—sorry, tea—into your stomach, your core temperature does rise a tiny bit. But here’s the beautiful part: that rise is temporary and minuscule. Your body overreacts by sweating profusely, and the evaporation effect easily outweighs the heat you just swallowed.
It’s like inviting a tiny fire ant to a pool party, then turning the hose on until everyone forgets it was ever there. The net result? You end up cooler than if you’d sipped an iced drink, which can sometimes confuse your body into shutting down the sweat response. Iced tea is delicious, but it’s the lazy cousin in this heat battle.
The Science Says… It’s Complicated (and Humid)
Here’s where I have to be the buzzkill at the picnic: this trick only works in dry heat. If you’re in a sticky, swampy jungle of humidity, your sweat refuses to evaporate. It just sits on your skin like a jealous ex, making you feel gross and slightly warmer.
In that case, hot tea might actually make you feel like a dumpling in a steamer basket. So if you’re in a humid climate, maybe stick to cold drinks and a very aggressive fan. Sorry, grandma.
Tea Brewing Water Temperature Guide