Is Hibiscus tea safe during pregnancy?
Little safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding — ask your clinician, and keep amounts modest.
What the sources say
Mayo Clinic advises not drinking herbal tea in pregnancy unless your clinician says it's OK, because little is known about many herbs; NHS suggests no more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day. LactMed notes hibiscus is GRAS as a food and generally well tolerated, but no data exist on its safety for nursing parents or infants; it's promoted as a milk booster without valid trials. Allergic reactions are possible. Many fruit and "zinger" tea blends contain hibiscus — check the ingredient list.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
hibiscus, agua de jamaica, sorrel drink, roselle, hibiscus sabdariffa, red zinger
Sources
- Mayo Clinic: Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy
- NIH LactMed: Hibiscus
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.