Hot Tea During Hot Summer? Here's Why You Should Do It Too!

When summer arrives and the sun shines brightly, we often subconsciously reach for a glass of ice-cold soda, refreshing smoothies, or an ice cream. This is the image that symbolizes the comfort in the heat of the summer.

But around the world, especially in countries with hot and dry climates, the story is different. People drink hot tea at the peak of the heat! From the crowded markets of India to the streets of Western countries, and from the Arabian desert to the streets of Cairo, a cup of hot tea is what people seek to deal with hot summer afternoons. You may wonder, “In forty-degree heat? Hot tea?!” Yes. It’s not strange or weird. In fact, this is quite logical and science backs it up.

Let’s discover together why this choice is not only strange but also very beneficial for health.

Does Hot Tea Cool Down the Body?

At first glance, it may seem counterintuitive, maybe unbelievable, that a hot drink would cool the body down. But our body is more complicated than we think. When you drink a hot drink, temperature receptors in your mouth are stimulated. Called TRPV1, these receptors are the ones that make you feel the heat of, for example, hot pepper.

When TRPV1 is activated, it makes the body think that its internal temperature has risen and immediately reacts by increasing sweating. More sweating means more evaporation from the surface of the skin. This is our body’s natural cooling mechanism without the need for icy drinks or sitting in front of an air conditioner. This mechanism acts similarly to evaporative cooling.

Of course, this strategy works better in dry areas such as Delhi or Morocco. In humid weather, our sweat doesn’t evaporate easily. Therefore, there’s no natural cooling mechanism.

A common belief is that only cold water or icy drinks can hydrate the body. But this is not true. Tea, especially herbal and decaffeinated tea, can keep the body hydrated and cool just as much as water. Contrary to popular belief, drinking tea does not dehydrate the body unless it contains a large amount of caffeine. Traditional black tea often contains a high amount of caffeine, but you can replace it with herbal teas to deal with the heat of the summer.

To back this up, Doctor Sini Banu from the University of London emphasizes that elderly people who drink less water can fully meet their water needs with decaf tea or herbal teas. So if you don’t feel like drinking plain water on hot summer days, a hot cup of herbal tea can quench your thirst and keep your body hydrated.

Health Benefits of Drinking Hot Tea in the Heat

Drinking hot tea in summer has several benefits, far more than just cooling the body. Let’s explore some of them here:

Improve digestive function: Tea infusions such as ginger, mint, or fennel regulate digestion, reduce bloating, and soothe the stomach. After a heavy meal during the summer, go with a cup of peppermint tea to help with digestion.
Fight heat stroke: Herbs such as sour tea or dandelion root balance the body’s internal temperature and reduce the risk of heat stroke. These herbal teas help regulate the body’s fluids and minerals, preventing low blood pressure and lethargy.
Reduce stress: Tea infusions such as lavender and chamomile contain compounds that calm the mind and promote restful sleep at the end of a hot day.
Boost the immune system: Herbal teas like green tea are rich in antioxidants and protect the body’s cells from environmental damage, the sun’s UV rays, and general pollution and dust in the air during a hot and dry summer. Also, regularly drinking herbal teas like black poppy or sour tea makes the body more resistant to seasonal allergies or summer colds.

Herbal Teas for Hot Summer Days [Cheatsheet]

While we talk about what teas are good choices during a hot summer because of their health benefits, listing them neatly will help you make a better choice for what to brew when the heat is irritating. The best herbal teas for hot summer days that we recommend are as follows:

Peppermint cools you down, has anti-nausea properties, and boosts gut health.
Hibiscus tea has a special refreshing flavor. Great choice for cold-brewing. Also lowers blood pressure.
Chamomile relaxes your nerves and helps you sleep better.
Ginger & lemon tea strengthens immunity, has antiviral properties, and gives you more energy during heat waves.
Lavender helps with anxiety and is a remedy for heat-related headaches.
Dandelion root cleanses the liver and kidneys.
Fennel & licorice tea helps stomach and digestion, and facilitates breathing during dusty weather of a hot and dry summer day
Raspberry leaf balances hormones and regulates periods.

Conclusion

In the end, let’s not forget that you can’t fight the summer heat; you have to accompany it, and what better companion than a cup of hot tea? Contrary to popular belief, then, we discovered how hot drinks can actually make you feel cooler by regulating your body temperature. Infusions like mint, ginger, or chamomile not only taste delicious, but most importantly, they help to relax, improve digestion, and strengthen the body. Although the temptation of iced and cold drinks is always there, the effect of hot tea on internal balance is not something that can be ignored. This traditional drink is simply part of your summer care, without artificial additives or hidden sugars. So it’s time to experience this summer in a different way, with a simple, natural, and enjoyable habit that comes from a hot cup. Self-care doesn’t always mean doing complicated things—sometimes we just need to make a conscious choice. So, this summer, don’t forget tea, even if the weather is hot.