Re: do hot fluids kill taste buds?

Heat leads to damage to taste buds, depending on the temperature of the 
liquid wich is ingested. No data are available according to a "threshold" 
beyond wich taste buds would be burned. But you can say say that the 
hottest the fluid, the more important the damage.
A practical recommendation would be: drink hot but not burning (burning 
refers to your own feeling when the fluid is in your mouth) liquids, such 
as coffee or tea. Chronic ingestion of very hot liquids such as tea among 
japanese people is strongly linked to a higher incidence of oesophageal 
cancer.

Luc

Luc A Ronchi
Ped Anesthesia