During follow-up, 29,783 people died. Researchers found that the risk of all-cause mortality decreased by around 12% as tea intake increased to three cups per day.

People who drank more than three cups of tea a day did not have a lower mortality risk than those who drank between one and three cups.

Adding milk or sugar had little effect on the observed benefits of black tea. Likewise, the tea’s temperature was drunk and did not affect mortality risk.

“We found the association regardless of whether people took milk or sugar in their tea.”

– Dr. Maki Inoue-Choi , corresponding author, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute.

Those who drank more than two cups of tea daily had a lower mortality risk from cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease, and stroke.

The researchers did not find any association between cancer and respiratory disease death.