If you can enjoy a cup of fragrant and delicious tea in the morning, it is undoubtedly a great pleasure. The components in tea, such as caffeine, catechins, and tea polyphenols, can also increase gastric acid secretion and promote digestive tract motility.

However, some people worry: Does drinking tea on an empty stomach harm the stomach? Do some "irritating" components in tea have negative effects on the stomach?

Others say that different types of tea have different effects on the stomach. Fully fermented teas like black tea and Pu-erh are considered "mild" and can nourish the stomach. Unfermented or semi-fermented teas like green tea and oolong tea are considered "cooling" and should not be consumed on an empty stomach or in large quantities, as they "harm the stomach."

Interestingly, green tea, which is often labeled as "stomach-harming," is also the most studied by modern medicine. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that for healthy adults, drinking no more than five cups of green tea a day is "likely safe."

If you do not have stomach problems, drinking green tea will not irritate or harm your stomach. A comparative study found that green tea drinkers had only half the risk of stomach cancer and gastritis compared to non-drinkers. This may be because green tea itself has "stomach-nourishing" potential or because green tea drinkers take better care of their health. Compared to black tea and Pu-erh, green tea retains more antioxidants like tea polyphenols. At the very least, for healthy individuals, green tea may not "nourish the stomach," but it certainly does not "harm the stomach."

Drinking tea on an empty stomach in the morning? Don’t worry, it’s fine.

For those with excessive stomach acid or acid reflux, occasionally drinking green tea can have a "neutralizing effect." In 2015, Saudi researchers had 20 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease eat only two meals a day, replacing the missing meal with green tea and other beverages. After two weeks, 85% of the patients showed improved symptoms.

However, if you already have a stomach ulcer, green tea’s anticoagulant properties may slightly increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Additionally, anti-ulcer medications like cimetidine can slow the metabolism of caffeine in green tea. Those taking these medications may find themselves more prone to tremors, excitement, or even headaches—symptoms of "tea drunkenness"—after drinking tea.

There are many opinions about drinking tea on an empty stomach in the morning. Here’s our take:

For tea lovers, the biggest concern is whether tea harms the stomach. If your stomach is healthy and you’re already accustomed to drinking tea, many tea enthusiasts have made it a habit to drink tea in the morning. In such cases, the stomach has already adapted, and there’s no issue of harm. Don’t change your habits just because someone says tea harms the stomach. Listening to others and altering your lifestyle without reason is a sign of indecisiveness.

So, you don’t need to change your morning tea habit just because you’ve heard it might harm your stomach. Feel free to keep your routine.

For those who haven’t yet formed this habit but are considering it, first assess whether you have any stomach issues. If your stomach is healthy, you can certainly give it a try. If you feel comfortable after drinking tea and experience no discomfort, especially if your stomach feels fine and your appetite improves, then you can confidently enjoy your morning tea.

If you love drinking tea in the morning and have already formed the habit—so much so that skipping it feels unbearable—but your stomach is not in great shape, and your doctor has advised against it, we recommend caution. It’s best not to drink tea on an empty stomach. If you truly love tea, opt for varieties that are gentle on the stomach or even beneficial.

Additionally, if your stomach isn’t suited to drinking tea on an empty stomach, or if you experience discomfort after doing so, we advise against it. It’s better to drink tea after meals.