Can you drink barley tea while pregnant?
SafeYes, barley tea is safe. It is made from roasted barley grains rather than tea leaves, so it has no caffeine and nothing on the pregnancy avoid list.
Why
Barley tea is just roasted barley steeped in hot water. There is no tea leaf, so no caffeine to count against the 200 mg daily ACOG limit, and no alcohol, unpasteurized dairy or raw ingredient involved. Both ACOG and the NHS encourage plenty of fluids in pregnancy and treat caffeine-free drinks like this as a straightforward way to stay hydrated. Serve it hot or chilled, and if you brew a jug at home, refrigerate it and finish it within a couple of days like any other prepared drink.
Safer alternatives
- Chilled bottled mugicha from a Japanese or Korean grocer
- Roasted corn tea (oksusu cha)
- Brown rice tea (hyeonmi cha)
- Rooibos tea
- Sparkling water with lemon
Sources
- ACOG https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy
- NHS https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/have-a-healthy-diet/
Every verdict follows our sourcing methodology: official health guidelines only, most cautious position when they differ.
Last reviewed by the pregAI editorial team.
Frequently asked questions
Does barley tea have caffeine?
No, barley tea contains no caffeine because it is brewed from roasted grain, not from tea leaves. That means it does not count toward your 200 mg daily caffeine allowance. You can drink it in the evening without affecting sleep.
Can barley tea reduce breast milk supply?
This comes up a lot, and the opposite claim circulates too. There is no reliable evidence that barley tea harms or boosts milk supply, and it is not something to avoid in late pregnancy for that reason.
Is bottled or canned barley tea safe in pregnancy?
Yes, commercially bottled barley tea is pasteurized and sealed, so it is safe straight from the fridge. Keep it chilled once opened and finish it within a day or two. The same goes for homemade batches.
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