Is Tea / chai safe during pregnancy?
Drinks
Limit caffeine; not with meals or IFA tablets
The NHS counts tea's caffeine (about 75 mg a cup) towards its 200 mg daily limit; ICMR-NIN says to minimise caffeine and avoid tea around meals and IFA tablets.[1,2]
What official sources say
NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- Estimated amount of caffeine in common foods and drinks: A cup of tea, black or green, contains an estimated 75 mg of caffeine.[1]
- Caffeine › Things to limit: Caffeine should be limited in pregnancy to no more than 200 mg a day.[1]
- Drinks › Drinks to limit: Caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea, cola and some energy drinks, should be limited so that you have no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day.[1]
ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024
- Too much coffee, tea or other caffeinated drinks harms the baby's growth, so caffeine should be kept to a minimum in pregnancy. (p. 18)[2]
- Tea should be avoided before, during or soon after meals, and when taking iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets. (p. 19)[2]
- Among its don'ts for pregnancy: do not have tea, coffee or other caffeinated drinks with meals or soon after them. (p. 17)[2]
Related general rules
ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024
- Tea and coffee should be avoided for at least one hour before and after meals. (p. 91) (general-population advice, not specific to pregnancy)[2]
Nutrition per 100 g (USDA)
| Energy | 1 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Fibre | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Iron | 0.02 mg |
| Calcium | 0 mg |
| Folate (DFE) | 5 µg |
| Folate, total | 5 µg |
| Vitamin A (RAE) | 0 µg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0 µg |
| Choline | 0.4 mg |
| DHA (omega-3) | 0 g |
| EPA (omega-3) | 0 g |
| Caffeine | 20 mg |
| Sodium | 3 mg |
USDA FoodData Central: Beverages, tea, black, brewed, prepared with tap water (FDC ID 173227), per 100 g. Public domain. Values describe that USDA record; composition varies with variety and preparation.
Sources
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy · nhs.uk. Paraphrased. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). Not endorsed by the NHS.
- ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024 · nin.res.in. Printed pages 17, 18, 19, 91. Paraphrased and cited by printed page; the text is not reproduced.
Sources checked 26 September 2026.
Quotes are checked word for word against each source page, and paraphrases against the original text. Official bodies are named as sources only: none of them reviewed or endorses this page.
Educational information, not medical advice. Your own doctor or midwife may advise differently for you — follow their advice.