Can You Drink Herbal Tea When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Herbal Tea is generally fine during pregnancy in moderation — the NHS advises no more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day.
Why is herbal tea a concern in pregnancy?
There is limited research on the effects of many herbal ingredients in pregnancy, so the NHS takes a precautionary approach: herbal and green teas are fine in moderation, but you should drink no more than 4 cups a day, and herbal teas containing liquorice root should be avoided. If you're unsure about a specific herbal ingredient, check with your midwife or pharmacist.
You can also check the calorie content of herbal tea alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Avoid teas marketed for inducing labour (and only use raspberry leaf tea from late pregnancy, after discussing it with your midwife). Green tea also contains caffeine, which counts towards your 200mg daily limit.
The UK rule is a cup count, and some pages misquote it
The NHS foods-to-avoid page (last reviewed 15 June 2026) says: 'herbal teas, like peppermint and chamomile – avoid drinking more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day', gives the reason 'There's not much research on the effects of drinking herbal teas in pregnancy', and says to avoid 'herbal teas containing liquorice root'. The pages that quote it do not always agree:
| Source | What it says | Matches the NHS? |
|---|---|---|
| NHS (15 June 2026) | No more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day; avoid liquorice root teas | Yes (this is the source) |
| nidirect (April 2025) | 'You should drink no more than four cups of herbal tea a day' | Yes |
| British Nutrition Foundation page (revised July 2023) | Says the FSA advises no more than four cups a day; choose teas made from ingredients that are normal parts of the diet, such as mint or blackcurrant | Yes on the 4 cups |
| Mother & Baby (undated) | 'One or two cups a day should be fine' and attributes a 1 to 2 cup rule to the NHS | No: the NHS page we read says 4 |
| Healthline (US, 5 January 2024) | 'Most herbal teas should be avoided'; lists many herbs to avoid | No: stricter, US-based, not UK guidance |
So '4 cups' is the UK number. A '1 to 2 cups' claim attributed to the NHS did not match the NHS page we opened.
Tea by tea: what each source says
| Tea | What the sources say | Our summary |
|---|---|---|
| Peppermint, chamomile | Named by the NHS as examples within the 4-cup limit. Mother & Baby advises avoiding chamomile 'as much as possible' | Within 4 cups per the NHS; some pages are more cautious |
| Fruit teas (blackcurrant etc.) | BNF: choose teas made from ingredients that are normal parts of the diet, such as mint or blackcurrant | Count toward the 4 cups |
| Ginger | Not named on the NHS page. Tommy's: 'some women do find that consuming food or drink containing ginger helps', 'not scientifically proven'. Healthline: dried ginger should not exceed 1 gram a day | Count toward the 4 cups; see ginger tea |
| Raspberry leaf | Tommy's: unsure whether it works or how safe; start around 32 weeks after advice. UK Committee on Toxicity (13 November 2024): risk 'low but with high uncertainty' | Late pregnancy only; see raspberry leaf tea |
| Liquorice root tea | NHS: avoid herbal teas containing liquorice root | Avoid. Check blends, since liquorice root is a common sweetener in 'sweet' herbal blends |
| Green tea | Not herbal: it contains caffeine. nidirect: 75mg in a mug of tea, and green tea 'can have the same amount of caffeine as regular tea'. The BNF page puts green tea at about 55mg a mug | Count toward your caffeine limit; see green tea |
| 'Pregnancy teas', detox or slimming teas | No UK rule found. Tommy's says there is 'no miracle product you can buy to fix' bloating; its Flat Tummy tea article does not give an ingredient rule | Read the ingredient list for liquorice root and ask your midwife or pharmacist |
| Rooibos | Not mentioned by any source we opened | No rule found; counts as a herbal tea |
Counting your day
Herbal tea and caffeinated tea are counted separately. The 4-cup herbal limit is a cup count; the 200mg caffeine limit applies to black tea, green tea and coffee. nidirect and the NHS put a mug of tea at 75mg, so two mugs of black tea use 150mg of the 200mg. See coffee when pregnant for the chain-coffee figures.
| Day | Counts as |
|---|---|
| 3 cups of peppermint tea and 1 chamomile | 4 herbal cups: at the NHS limit |
| 2 mugs of black tea and 2 cups of peppermint tea | 150mg caffeine (of 200mg) and 2 herbal cups |
| 1 green tea, 1 mug of instant coffee, 3 herbal teas | 155mg or 175mg caffeine (green tea at 55mg or 75mg, plus 100mg for the coffee), and 3 herbal cups |
Arithmetic ours, from the NHS 75mg mug of tea and 100mg mug of instant coffee, and the BNF/nidirect green tea values. The green tea row shows why those two values matter.
At the shop
- Read the ingredients. The NHS names liquorice root; check 'sweet' and 'digestive' blends.
- Stay with simple blends. The BNF suggests teas made from ingredients that are normal parts of the diet.
- Ask before using medicinal teas. Tommy's advice for raspberry leaf: always check with your midwife or doctor before trying herbal remedies in pregnancy.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — herbal teas such as peppermint and chamomile: no more than 4 cups a day; liquorice root teas avoid; not much research; last reviewed 15 June 2026
- nidirect: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page metadata modified 3 April 2025) — no more than four cups of herbal tea; mug of tea 75mg; green tea can have the same caffeine; avoid liquorice root
- British Nutrition Foundation: What not to eat when pregnant (reviewed June 2018, revised July 2023) — FSA four cups; choose normal dietary ingredients such as mint or blackcurrant; green tea caffeine about 55mg (revised July 2023)
- Mother & Baby: Can you drink herbal tea while pregnant? (undated) — rival (undated): 1 to 2 cups attributed to the NHS; chamomile avoid as much as possible; sage and parsley
- Healthline: Is tea safe during pregnancy? (5 January 2024) — rival (US): most herbal teas should be avoided; ginger under 1g dried a day
- Tommy's: Amber Rose criticised for promoting 'Flat Tummy' tea during pregnancy — no miracle product for bloating; ginger not scientifically proven but some find it helps
- Committee on Toxicity, Statement 2024/06: potential health effects of raspberry leaf tea in the maternal diet (13 November 2024) — raspberry leaf: low risk, high uncertainty
- Tommy's: What brings labour on? (reviewed 7 February 2024) — raspberry leaf: experts unsure; start around 32 weeks after advice; check with midwife
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Check Price →Herbal Tea: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Fine in moderation |
Common questions
How many cups of herbal tea can I drink when pregnant?
The NHS says to avoid drinking more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day. That includes peppermint and chamomile, which the NHS names.
Is peppermint tea safe when pregnant?
The NHS names peppermint among herbal teas to keep within the 4-cup daily limit. Some US pages are more cautious.
Is chamomile tea safe when pregnant?
The NHS names chamomile within the 4-cup limit. Mother & Baby advises avoiding it as much as possible, so some pages are more cautious than the NHS.
Which herbal teas should I avoid when pregnant?
The NHS says to avoid herbal teas containing liquorice root. Raspberry leaf tea is a late-pregnancy question; ask your midwife. For other herbs, there is little research, which is why the NHS gives a cup limit.
Does green tea count as herbal tea?
No. Green tea contains caffeine and counts toward your caffeine limit (200mg a day in the NHS pregnancy advice).
Is it safe to drink raspberry leaf tea in pregnancy?
Tommy's says experts are unsure whether it works or how safe it is and suggests starting around 32 weeks after getting advice. See our raspberry leaf tea page.
Can I drink pregnancy tea blends and detox teas?
We found no UK rule on them. Check the ingredient list for liquorice root and ask your midwife or pharmacist.
I drank more than 4 cups today. Is that a problem?
The NHS gives the 4-cup limit as a precaution because there is not much research, and does not say what to do about a single day above it. If you are worried about an ingredient, ask your midwife or pharmacist.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS foods-to-avoid guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.