Herbal Tea

Caution★★★★★

Herbs & Spices

Herbal teas are infusions of leaves, flowers, roots or fruit rather than the tea plant, so most are caffeine-free. In pregnancy common kinds such as peppermint, ginger, rooibos and chamomile are fine in moderation; the caution is for unusual herbs, large amounts and a few specific teas.

Why it's good in pregnancy

Ginger tea is one of the few things shown to ease pregnancy nausea, peppermint can settle an uneasy stomach and bloating, rooibos is caffeine-free and rich in antioxidants, and a warm cup of chamomile in the evening can help you wind down. They all count towards your fluids and give you a comforting drink with nothing to add up.

Serving ideas

Fresh ginger slices in hot water for morning nausea

Peppermint tea after a heavy meal

Rooibos with a splash of milk in the evening

Chamomile before bed

Iced fruit tea with berries in summer

Safety

Herbs are not tested in pregnancy the way foods and medicines are, so the NHS advises keeping to well-known varieties and no more than about four cups a day. A few need special care: raspberry leaf tea is traditionally used to tone the uterus and should not be started before 32 weeks, and then only after checking with your midwife; liquorice root tea in large amounts has been linked to preterm birth and higher blood pressure; fennel, sage and large amounts of nettle or dong quai have hormonal or uterine effects; and 'detox', 'slimming' or 'cleanse' blends can contain laxative herbs such as senna. Fruit teas are fine. Check the ingredients list on blended teas rather than trusting the name.

Stick to familiar teas — peppermint, ginger, rooibos, chamomile — up to four cups a day.Avoid raspberry leaf before 32 weeks and large amounts of liquorice or fennel tea.Skip blends with unfamiliar herbs or 'detox' and 'cleanse' claims.

Buy teas from a reputable brand and read the whole ingredients list; a 'calming' blend might include liquorice, sage or valerian. Rotate between two or three familiar kinds rather than drinking one herb all day, and keep the total to around four cups. Ginger tea made from a slice of fresh root is fine in the amounts you would use in cooking; ginger supplements are a separate question for your midwife. If you want raspberry leaf tea for labour, wait until 32 weeks and start with one cup a day, stopping if you feel strong tightenings.

Common questions

Which herbal teas are safe during pregnancy?Peppermint, ginger, rooibos, chamomile and fruit teas are fine at up to about four cups a day; avoid unusual herbs, large amounts of liquorice and raspberry leaf before 32 weeks.

Can I drink raspberry leaf tea when pregnant?Not before 32 weeks — it is thought to stimulate the uterus — and after that only with your midwife's agreement, starting with one cup a day.

Is chamomile tea OK in pregnancy?A cup or two a day is considered fine; like all herbal teas, keep it moderate rather than drinking it all day.

Did you know?

Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and low in tannins, so unlike black tea it does not interfere with iron absorption.

Liquorice root is 50 times sweeter than sugar, and its active compound, glycyrrhizin, is what raises blood pressure in large amounts.

Scan any food. Know instantly.This page is one food — the Avo app has hundreds, plus a camera scanner.

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play