New research from Northwestern University reveals that brewing tea can help remove heavy metals like lead and cadmium from drinking water. The study found that tea leaves naturally adsorb metal ions, trapping contaminants and reducing their presence in water. Researchers tested various tea types, brewing times, and tea bags, concluding that longer steeping times and cellulose-based tea bags were most effective in capturing harmful metals. This discovery highlights an unexpected health benefit of tea, in addition to its well-known antioxidants and calming properties.
While the study does not suggest tea as a replacement for proper water filtration, it demonstrates how a simple daily habit may passively reduce heavy metal exposure. Even steeping tea for longer durations—such as overnight iced tea preparation—significantly enhances metal adsorption. With tea being the most consumed beverage in the world, these findings could have important public health implications. Researchers are now exploring how tea consumption patterns might correlate with lower rates of heavy metal-related illnesses, offering new insights into the benefits of this age-old drink.