Overview

• Both women reportedly drank about two to three cups a day before being hospitalized and receiving blood transfusions.
• Reported symptoms included persistent fatigue, severe itching, and feeling constantly cold.
• Experts note that tea tannins and matcha’s higher oxalic acid content can inhibit iron absorption, with some reports citing up to five times more oxalate than other green teas.
• Current advice recommends limiting intake to one to two cups daily, separating tea from iron-rich meals or supplements by one to two hours, and seeking medical evaluation for deficiency symptoms.
• The cases gained attention after TikTok posts and subsequent coverage by Newsweek and RTL, with a physician blood test preceding a hospital referral for transfusion.