Can I drink tea and karak chai during pregnancy?
Limit Yes, up to about 2 cups a day
Yes, but limit it. Tea contains caffeine, and pregnant women should keep caffeine under 200 mg a day. A mug of tea has about 75 mg, and strong, long-boiled karak or doodh patti can have more, so two small cups a day is a sensible limit.
Is tea and karak chai safe in pregnancy?
Caffeine crosses the placenta, and your baby can't break it down well. High intakes have been linked with low birth weight and a higher risk of miscarriage, which is why health bodies set a limit of 200 mg a day from all sources. Tea also contains tannins, which reduce how much iron you absorb from food, a concern because anaemia is common in pregnancy.
Benefits
- A warm, comforting drink that counts towards your fluids
- Made with milk, karak adds a little calcium
- Ginger chai may help ease nausea
Risks to know about
- Caffeine adds up quickly with coffee, cola, chocolate and energy drinks
- Tea with meals reduces iron absorption
- Karak is often very sweet, adding sugar and calories
How to drink it safely
- Keep to about 2 small cups a day, and count other caffeine too
- Drink tea between meals, not with them, to protect your iron levels
- Cut the sugar gradually, or try a lighter brew
- Try ginger, mint or rooibos tea, which are caffeine-free
Questions about tea and karak chai in pregnancy
How much caffeine is in karak chai?
It varies. A mug of ordinary tea has about 75 mg. Karak brewed strong and boiled for a long time can contain more. Counting each cup as about 75 to 100 mg is a cautious estimate.
Is herbal tea safe in pregnancy?
Ginger, mint and rooibos are generally fine in normal amounts. Avoid large amounts of any herbal tea, and check with your doctor before using herbal remedies or blends marketed for labour.
Is green tea better than black tea?
Green tea has a little less caffeine, but it still counts. See our page on green tea.
General information, not medical advice. If you have a condition such as gestational diabetes or an allergy, ask your doctor or midwife what's right for you.