The work by Oxford University, which is published in the International Journal of Cancer, defines any drink at 65 degrees Celsuis or above as “very hot” and posing a potential risk.<\/p>\n
Consuming six or more hot drinks per day also raises the risk, according to data from 977,282 middle-aged men and women.<\/p>\n
Although adding milk can cool drinks down slightly, a milky tea or coffee may still be far too hot, researchers say.<\/p>\n
Tea made immediately after a kettle is fully boiled is touching boiling point, which is 100 degrees C (212 degrees F). Once poured into a cup, that lowers to around 90 or 95 degrees C.<\/p>\n
The advice is to wait a few minutes before drinking so the beverage cools to a safer temperature.<\/p>\n
Cancer Research UK says it’s difficult to put an exact time on how long a hot drink should be left to cool.<\/p>\n
“But if you’re worried, we’d suggest just waiting until it’s comfortable to drink rather than drinking it while it’s still very hot,” the charity said.<\/p>\n
Lead researcher Dr Keren Papier said research in South America – where many people drink a very hot herbal beverage called mate – had already shown a similar link between hot drinks and oesophageal cancer.<\/p>\n
But she said: “More research is now needed to identify the exact drink temperatures linked to this increased risk.”<\/p>\n