When I was younger and would come looking for an ice pop or a cold drink, I remember my Grandmother would say a cup of tea would be better to help cool me down. Now, at the time I thought this was bonkers. Why on earth would I have a hot drink when I wanted to cool down?
Well, it turns out there is method to the madness and there are now studies to prove it. Think about it, the idea of drinking hot drinks in warm weather isn’t anything new. This dates back hundred of years, just look at the amount of tea drank by those in warmer climates. Tea or Chai is one of the most popular drinks in India and they can experience over 50° Celsius.
Within the top 10 countries that drink tea you have Chine, India, Turkey, Kenya and ourselves here in the UK. So, tea must have some great cooling properties right? Let’s dive in!
How does it work?
According to a study carried out by Cambridge professor Peter McNaughton (a neuroscientist) – drinking hot liquids like tea will raise your core body temperature and this will make you sweat more.
The nerves in your mouth and upper digestive tracts respond to the heat of the tea and this sends a message to the brain, telling it to product more sweat. While this may not sound amazing, sweat is actually there to help you cool down.
But Wait, There’s a Catch?
On a hot summers day, we can all get a little uncomfortable in the heat and may not be as cool as we would like. This is where a hot cuppa can help – the quick rise in your core temperature from the tea will make your body sweat (no profoundly – just enough to start cooling). But (yep, there is a but) if you are already sweating to the point that you may feel a little dewy or clammy – your body is already sweating and a cup of tea will not help or speed up the cooling process. Instead, it’s time for a dip in the pool or an icy cold beverage.
The Takeaway:
Slight uncomfortable in the summer heat and not visibly sweating? A cup of tea is your colling friend.
Very hot and visibly sweating – get yourself a ice cold beverage.
We do happen to be in the business of tea you know and we have perfected the art of pain free pouring, so why not check out our Uccello Kettle or other daily living aids in our range.
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