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Why Overnight Tea Should Not Be Drunk, Here's the Explanation!

Tea News · Sep 07, 2025

Many people believe that overnight tea should not be drunk, and there are many explanations for this, with one of the more "alarming" claims being that drinking overnight tea can cause cancer. So why shouldn't overnight tea be consumed? If you want to know the answer, read the article below.

 


 

1: Why shouldn't overnight tea be drunk? Explanation 1

1. Overnight tea should not be drunk refers to tea that has been left overnight.

2. Overnight tea has been sitting for a long time, most of its vitamins are lost, and the proteins and sugars in the tea can become breeding grounds for microorganisms, so it is best not to drink overnight tea.

3. Overnight tea that has not spoiled can still be consumed, but the purpose of drinking tea is to enjoy the inherent aroma of the tea leaves. Overnight tea loses its aroma and does not taste good.

4. According to general habits or tea ceremony practices, tea is usually brewed and consumed immediately. Few people drink cold tea, let alone overnight tea, because overnight tea contains tea rust and some impurities that may affect health.

2: Why shouldn't overnight tea be drunk? Explanation 2

1. Tea that has not been finished or left in a cup for a long time, such as overnight tea, is exposed to air for an extended period, allowing more tea polyphenols to oxidize into tea rust.

2. When tea rust enters the body, it combines with proteins, fats, and vitamins from food, precipitates, and hinders the absorption and digestion of nutrients.

3. Once these oxidized substances enter the body, they can also cause inflammation, ulcers, necrosis, and other lesions in organs such as the kidneys, liver, and stomach.

3: Why shouldn't overnight tea be drunk? Explanation 3

1. Some speculate that tea left overnight produces nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.

2. Although this claim sounds frightening, it is not as severe as it seems because the human body naturally has the ability to break down nitrosamines.

3. For nitrosamines to be carcinogenic, the body would need to absorb 100 to 2000 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Normal consumption levels do not pose such a significant risk.

4. Therefore, the fear that drinking tea could lead to nitrosamine-induced cancer is unfounded and lacks scientific basis.

Editor's summary: Why shouldn't overnight tea be drunk? The above are the explanations for why overnight tea should not be consumed. In fact, overnight tea is not entirely undrinkable, but it is best to avoid it whenever possible. Tea sets should also be cleaned regularly. As long as the tea has not spoiled, it is not toxic, and there is no need to worry about it causing cancer.

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