What Happens When You Drink Tea | 3D Human Digestion Animation

Yes, for many people it can cause acidity, nausea or reflux. Tea tannins irritate the stomach lining when there is no food to buffer them, and the caffeine stimulates acid secretion. If you get gastric discomfort, wait 30–45 minutes after waking, have a small bite (biscuit, banana), and then drink tea. People with GERD or gastritis should limit tea to after meals, not before.

Tea leaves the stomach in about 30–60 minutes, but caffeine keeps affecting the body for 4–6 hours. The water content is absorbed almost immediately in the small intestine. Tannins can slow iron absorption, which is why doctors advise not drinking tea with iron-rich meals or iron supplements — leave a 1-hour gap on either side.