Short Answer: The limitation is due to definition not temperature or chemistry. While etymologically, the term “Hot Drinks” reads liquids that are hot in temperature, however given the Mormon (Latter-day Saint) faith’s scripture, it is one of those church words defined as code from leadership to translate into coffee beans and tea leaves (Camellia sinensis). Hot cocoa is made from the cacao bean, which is not one of the banned items. And, though caffeine is a stimulant, the church has said that it’s not caffeine itself causing the ban —which is why caffeinated sodas and chocolate are allowed but decaf coffee usually isn’t.
For The Social Host How to Help Guests Without Being Awkward
If you’re having some Latter-day Saint friends or colleagues over to your home, you don’t have to get overly prescriptive about the chemistry. You simply need a guide for your menu.
The Logic of Ingredients
The rule is strictly botanical. It is not the vessel (mug) or the heat.
- The “No” list: anything from the coffee bean or tea leaf.
- The “Yes” List: Anything else, even hot and caffeinated worth a shot.
Actionable Hosting Steps:
- The “Herbal” Trap: This is the most common mistake for hosts. Green Tea and Black Tea should not be served. They look healthy but they are from the forbidden tea leaf (Camellia sinensis). Opt for Herbal Tea (Peppermint, Chamomile, Rooibos and Fruit blends) instead. The fact is, these are not really “tea” leaves; they are dried flowers/herbs and that’s fine.
- Hot Cocoa Is Safe: You can definitely make hot cocoa with marshmallows. It’s the in thing to do at church.
- The Starbucks Run If you’re ordering rounds for the office:
- Do order: Hot Chocolate, Steamers (warm milk and syrup), Apple Cider, or Herbal teas (Mint Majesty, Peach Tranquility).
- Do not drink: Mochas (has coffee and chocolate), Lattes, Chai Tea’s (tea leaves)
For The CULTURALLY Curious: The “Why” of the Rule
You may find it solipsistic that a religion that forbids coffee (often due to concerns about well-being) encourages sugary hot cocoa. For that you need to consider the labels on the food but also look deeper at the historical timing.
The Evolution of “Hot Drinks”
The dietary code, called the “Word of Wisdom” (Doctrine and Covenants Section 89), was penned in 1833. The belief at the time was that very hot liquid drank chilled in ice was bad for your stomach lining and hence science, morality was behind this Victorian practice.
But the interpretation hardened not around temperature but specific commodities.
The 1842 Definition Comment: Hyrum Smith (brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith) gave a specific definition to “hot drinks” when he said they consisted of nothing more or less than coffee and tea. This definition stuck.
The Obedience Factor: It is not a specific health ingredient (as for instance caffeine) that modern members are really being asked to abstain from, but a form of “Law of Obedience.” It’s a symbol of who you are. By giving up the two biggest social lubricants on earth (beer and coffee), members declared their dedication to their faith.
The Caffeine Paradox
A lot of outsiders believe the ban is somehow related to caffeine. This is incorrect.
Critical Insight: If it were caffeine that was the basis of the ban, Christmas-y hot cocoa (caffeine-low because it alumina(umma)-zed) and Coke (caffeine-high) would also be banned.
The “Soda Shop” Culture: In 2017, Brigham Young University started serving caffeinated sodas on campus (what took them so long?) signaling an official decree that no one should demonize caffeine. The negative is clearly on the plants,coffee/tea not the molecule (caffeine).
For investigators & new converts: Milan Into the gray areas
If you’re new to the faith, today’s beverage market can be confusing. Here is a decision-making flow chart.
The “Base Ingredient” Test
Before ingesting, ask: “What’s the backbone of this drink?”
- Base Coffeebean: Not allowed. (Includes Espresso, Americano, Latte, Cappuccino).
- Base = Tea Leaf: Not allowed. (Includes Earl Grey, Matcha, Chai, Iced Tea, Sweet Tea).
- Base = Cacao/Fruit/Herb/Grain: Allowable. (Includes Hot Cocoa, Postum, Pero, Herbal Teas).
Common Pitfalls:
- Iced Coffee: Even when it’s cold, it’s forbidden. And remember: “Hot Drinks” is a code word for the coffee plant, not a thermometer.
- Decaf Coffee: Things get confusing when it comes to decaf. The recommendation, in general, is not to drink coffee at all. Decaf is still made from the coffee bean and most observant members shun it to be clearly within the law, though church leaders seldom police this particular wrinkle very zealously.
- Mochas: A mocha is not merely “coffee-flavored chocolate. It contains actual espresso. It is prohibited.
For Health & Diet Fanatics: The Physiology Breakdown
Given that you can look at this in terms of your health or body, the whole argument for “Cocoa vs Coffee” needs to be looked into closely – because actually it contradicts current day nutritional advice.
Comparative Analysis: Coffee vs. Cocoa
Simply BIO and life saving, coffee usually does better in the healthy department then the average hot chcolate you drink like AMericans.
The Antioxidant Argument:
- Coffee: Is the biggest source of antioxidants in the Western diet.
- Cocoa: Natural, unprocessed cacao contains flavonoids; however the form of cocoa found in “commercial ‘Hot Cocoa'” (Dutch processing) substantially decreases the flavonoid content per serving.
The Sugar Trade-off:
- Coffee: Naturally sugar free and zero calories.
- Hot Chocolate: Your average 12-oz serving can contain as much as 25-40 grams of added sugar.
Critical Thinking: Not being able to drink coffee, but fine is hot cocoa, the dietary code condemning a drink associated with insulin resistance (sugar filled cocoa) to be consumed and banning the was proven liverandy Alzheimer preventing elixer (coffee)! This only goes to further highlight the fact that this limitation is religious and not medical.
Stimulant Levels:
- This link lists ~95mg caffeine in a cup of coffee.
- Hot Cocoa: ~5-10mg of caffeine per cup (and Theobromine).
Although it has only a small fraction of the caffeine in coffee, the mere existence of any* stimulant in cocoa demonstrates that “mind-altering substances” cannot be an absolute red line; depending on whether you think there’s some kind of “breach” or arc across time between Adam and us or… something else is going on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ‘Hot Drinks’ as mentioned in the LDS Word of Wisdom?
Within church doctrine “Hot Drinks” is a code word that the leaders of the church (specifically Hyrum Smith in 1842) have defined to mean coffee beans and tea leaves (Camellia Sinensis). It’s not about the temp of the liquid.
Is it because of caffeine that Mormons refrain from coffee and tea?
No. The church has also explicitly said that caffeine is not the cause for the restriction, and it is on the plant itself, not the molecule. This is why it’s OK to have a caffeinated soda or chocolate.
How can hot cocoa be allowed but coffee not?
The rule is purely botanical, not chemical. Hot cocoa is made of cacao bean not the prohibited list. Coffee is forbidden because it is made from the bean and the bean falls under the proscribed category “Hot Drinks.”
Is it against the teachings of Lds to drink any kind of tea?
No. The only exceptions are for teas made from the Camellia sinensis leaf (like Green, Black, Earl Grey & Chai). Technically infusions, herbal teas made from dried flowers, fruit or herbs (such as Peppermint, Chamomile and Rooibos) are completely acceptable.
How about iced coffee or decaffeinated coffee, since they are not “hot” and have no caffeine?
Generally, no. Since the term “Hot Drinks” is a definition of the coffee plant and not a temperature limit, iced coffee remains prohibited. Likewise, decaffeinated coffee is generally eschewed by participating members because it comes from the same Word of Wisdom-verboten bean.
References
- Church Doctrine Source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89. (Received 1833).
- LDS Church Newsroom Statement on Caffeine. “Mormonism and Caffeine.” Statement released August 29, 2012. (Clarifies that the church restriction does not specifically refer to caffeine.)
- Historical Definition: Smith, Hyrum. “The Word of Wisdom.” Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, p. 800. June 1, 1842. (Specifically defines “hot drinks” as tea and coffee).
- Nutrition Information: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), FoodData Central. “Coffee, brewed” (FDC ID: 171890) and “Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened” (FDC ID: 169593). Accessed 2023.
- Coffee Health Studies: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “The Nutrition Source: Coffee.” (Editors’ note: References studies on coffee and decreased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease).
