The most likely reason the researcher included the third group is:
D. to act as a control (to see if memory was aided by hot beverages or just the tea)
Including a control group allows the researcher to compare the effects of hot water without tea to the effects of hot tea. This helps in isolating the specific impact of tea on memory, as opposed to the general effect of consuming a hot beverage.
A control group is an essential component in experimental design to help researchers make meaningful comparisons and draw reliable conclusions. In this case, the researcher is investigating the potential memory-aiding effects of hot tea. By including a control group that consumes hot water without tea, the researcher can differentiate between the effects of the hot beverage itself and the potential additional benefits attributed to the tea.