During the orange-eating season, many elderly people have a habit of using orange peels to brew tea. Dried orange peel has cooling, heat-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and appetite-stimulating properties, and drinking it can indeed help relieve cough and reduce phlegm. However, the situation has changed now.

In recent years, after farmers pick oranges, they mostly soak them in preservatives before bringing them to market. Preservatives can inhibit bacterial invasion and extend the shelf life, which does not affect the orange pulp. However, the orange peel retains toxins, which are difficult to wash off completely with water. If brewed into tea and consumed, it can be harmful to humans. Some people brew tea with untreated orange peels without considering their harmful effects.

Additionally, orange trees often suffer from pests and diseases. To prevent pests, large amounts of pesticides are generally used from flowering to fruiting. These pesticides残留 on the surface of the orange peel will dissolve when brewed with boiling water. People who drink this tea absorb these toxins. Therefore, brewing tea with untreated orange peels is harmful to humans.