Tea is generally thought of as a healthy and refreshing beverage that is safe to enjoy. However, some research has indicated that a certain type of tea could well be cancer-causing. According to studies, there is a correlation between yerba maté tea and certain types of cancer.

Yerba maté tea is a herbal tea that is made from the leaves and twigs of the Ilex paraguariensis plant. The leaves are typically dried over a fire before being dipped in hot water to make the beverage. While the tea has previously been credited with a whole host of health benefits including as a booster for your immune system, it would appear that excessive consumption of this tea could increase the risk of lung cancer and digestive cancers such as oesophageal cancer, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer.

According to experts, the tea contains a carcinogen called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also found in grilled meats and tobacco smoke. Drinking the tea at high temperatures could also exacerbate the risk of developing cancer. While there isn’t enough evidence to know for sure if drinking very hot yerba or mate tea can cause cancer, some studies have found an association.

Another study has compared drinking yerba tea, to being as dangerous as 100 smoking cigarettes.

While studies on this are still not conclusive, experts have said that the best way to reduce the risk of cancer is to have an overall healthy and balanced diet. This is a diet that is high in fibre, fruit and vegetables, and low in processed and red meat, high calorie foods and drinks.”