Some also claim icy cold drinks hamper digestion. But I think the most likely answer — besides the fact that Europe historically has been cooler than the US, temperature-wise — is that very cold drinks change the flavor of the beverage."
One explanation I've heard elsewhere, and which may hold some truth, is that Europeans see ice as taking up valuable real estate in the glass, so that they would feel cheated if they got too much ice and too little beverage.
The Chinese think that because cold water needs to be heated back up to body temperature, drinking it slows and overexerts the digestive system... likely why they say it'll cause stomach discomfort and be cumulatively detrimental in the long term.
Evolutionarily, humans are drawn to cold water because it would have helped our ancestors survive better by avoiding waterborne diseases. Those that didn't have such a preference would have died out due to sickness, thus creating one of the necessary keys for a species to evolve.
In restaurants we tipically order water, beer, or wine. We don't usually put ice in water, so ice is generally not available in restaurants. Please tell me you don't put ice in beer and wine! Places where people often drink sodas with their meal will often have ice.
Though the drink might be known in the country, it is not particularly in demand there. “Iced coffee, as it is thought of in the U.S., is not popular partly due to the size, as well as the common addition of milk to the drink,” said Michele Pulcher, a senior coffee trainer for Lavazza based in Turin, Italy.
The U.S. ranks only 23rd in the world for safe drinking water, which is near the bottom of comparable nations. There are issues with both what is in tap water and how it is transported. Toxins like PFAS, arsenic and lead pollute some drinking water.
The risks and disadvantages of drinking cold water include thickening of mucus causing respiratory difficulty, headaches, tooth sensitivity, slowing gastric emptying, aggravating achalasia (a rare disease making it difficult for food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach), and causing 'cold stress'.
Ice Came And Went In The U.K.
Consequently, putting ice in drinks became a sign of wealth in British homes. Wealthy British people became known for not only adding ice cubes to things like cold water or cocktails but any drink typically served room temperature or chilled got the extra cold treatment.
The spleen also provides warmth to the kidneys for optimal functionality. It has an easier time adapting to moderate temperatures since Qi circulates better in a warm environment, and vice versa. Therefore, the TCM answer to the question “Is cold water bad for your kidneys?” is a resounding yes.
The most common contaminants found in tap water across many countries are: coli Bacteria. Coliform Bacteria. Nitrates.
One is that Europeans don't generally like to buck tradition, especially when it comes to food, and many of their food traditions predate the commercial ice trade by centuries." She adds, "Another is that they view ice as diluting the beverage or taking up too much valuable glass space.
Many in Europe resist due to cost, concern about environmental impact and even suspicions of adverse health impacts from cold air currents, including colds, a stiff neck, or worse. Cooling systems remain rare in Nordic countries and even Germany, where temperatures can nudge above 30C for extended periods.
An informal survey of upscale Washington restaurants, including Fiola, Kinship, L'Ardente and Xiquet by Danny Lledó, reveals they all omit ice in water glasses. The chef-owner at Xiquet, Danny Lledó, says he does that so guests aren't “chewing or biting” when they drink, and to avoid water splashing on the table.
The trace levels of minerals in the water will determine its taste. This is why the water tastes slightly different wherever you travel – it's being pulled from the sea or from the ground in a location that has a slightly different cocktail of minerals than you're normally used to.
The Chinese believe that all food and drinks should be taken at normal body temperature, or 100 degrees or greater, because cold foods weaken the Spleen and Stomach. In TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), the Spleen needs a moderate temperature in order to function properly.
Risks. Some potential risks of drinking water in the morning may involve: Drinking too much: If a person drinks too much water, water toxicity can occur. This can have negative effects on brain function, including confusion, nausea, and vomiting.
Many bottled water drinkers report taste as the primary reason for their bias — they just think bottled water tastes better than tap water, end of story. In some cases, this is entirely likely. Since many cities treat their tap water with chlorine to disinfect it, an aftertaste in tap water is pretty common.
Hot water is known to improve metabolism which helps in burning calories. People trying to lose weight can benefit from drinking hot water in the morning and before meals. When consumed in the morning it aids digestion and metabolism and when consumed before meals, it gives a feeling of fullness and reduces overeating.