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Can I drink matcha while pregnant?

Check Doola Scan's answer in the United States

Matcha, as tea or a matcha latte, shows Check in Doola Scan for pregnancy in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, because it's made of tea and its caffeine counts toward your daily limit. Health NZ says matcha is made of tea, so it contains caffeine. The limit is 200mg a day in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, under 200mg from ACOG in the US, and 300mg from Health Canada.

Checked against Doola Scan's pregnancy rules · Updated

  • Matcha whisked with water, as tea

    CheckIn all six countries

  • Matcha latte, hot or iced

    CheckIn all six countries
Doola Scan checking a plate
What each country says

Matcha while pregnant: what each country says.

Each country's own pregnancy guidance on matcha, with a link to it. Doola Scan uses your country's first.

  • United States

    Check
    • ACOGModerate caffeine (less than 200 mg a day) does not cause miscarriage or preterm birth.Source
    • FDANo set pregnancy limit; talk to your health care provider about whether to limit caffeine.Source
    • MyHealthfinder (HHS)Limit caffeine; ask your doctor if caffeine is safe for you, or try decaf.Source
    • ACOGModerate intake is not a major factor in miscarriage or preterm birth.Source

  • United Kingdom

    Check
    • NHSHigh caffeine intake is linked to miscarriage and stillbirth.Source
    • NHSNo more than 200 mg caffeine a day in pregnancy.Source

  • Canada

    Check
    • CPSLimit caffeine in pregnancy; consider cutting it out.Source
    • Health CanadaMaximum 300 mg caffeine a day when pregnant (about two 8-oz cups of coffee).Source
    • Health CanadaMaximum 300 mg caffeine a day when pregnant.Source

  • Australia

    Check
    • Better Health Channel (Victoria)Limit caffeine to 200 mg a day or less, or avoid it.Source
    • FSANZNo more than 200 mg caffeine a day from all sources.Source
    • healthdirectLimit caffeine to 200 mg a day when pregnant.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg caffeine per day (total) in pregnancy.Source
    • Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (Australian Government Dept of Health)Maximum 200 mg/day.Source

  • New Zealand

    Check
    • Health NZNo more than 4 cups tea or instant coffee (or 3 plunger coffees) a day.Source
    • Health NZUp to 200 mg caffeine a day in pregnancy.Source

  • Ireland

    Check
    • HSELimit caffeine to 200 mg a day (2 instant coffees, 1 filter coffee, 2-4 teas); limit energy drinks.Source
What to check

Before you drink matcha.

  1. Count matcha as caffeinated tea

    Health NZ says matcha is made of tea, so it contains caffeine, and puts a cup of green tea at about 30mg. Ireland's HSE lists green tea among drinks with caffeine. Health NZ

  2. Keep to your country's daily caffeine limit

    The NHS says no more than 200mg of caffeine a day in pregnancy, and the HSE, Health NZ and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby say the same. Health Canada's limit is 300mg a day, counting green tea with coffee, cola, energy drinks and chocolate. Health Canada

  3. Add any coffee or tea you have the same day

    The NHS puts a cup of instant coffee at about 100mg and a cup of black or green tea at about 75mg. A matcha latte in the morning and a coffee later both count toward the 200mg. NHS

Questions

About matcha
in pregnancy.

Matcha shows Check in all six countries, for its caffeine, the same as green tea. Its caffeine counts toward each country's daily limit, along with any coffee, tea or cola you have.

None of these countries gives a matcha number. The limit is on caffeine: 200mg a day from the NHS, the HSE, Health NZ and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, under 200mg from ACOG, and 300mg from Health Canada. Health NZ puts a cup of green tea at about 30mg and the NHS at about 75mg.

A matcha latte shows Check in all six countries, for the matcha's caffeine. Health NZ's caffeine page says matcha and kombucha are both made of tea.

None of these six countries' pregnancy guidance names matcha or green tea with folic acid. If you have questions about folic acid or other supplements, ask your midwife, doctor or pharmacist.

None of these bodies names matcha as good for pregnancy. Their guidance on it is about the caffeine it contains.

The caffeine limits apply all through pregnancy, from the first trimester on. Matcha shows Check in every trimester.

Yes. Take a photo of the menu or the cup's label, and Doola Scan checks it against your country's pregnancy guidance and caffeine limit. Food scans are free, 3 a day.
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Point Doola at a plate, a menu or a label. It checks every ingredient against your country's pregnancy guidance and shows its sources. Food scans are free, 3 a day.

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Doola shows what official guidance says; it never diagnoses. No known issues means none of these countries' pregnancy guidance names it, not a promise that a food is safe.