Comparison · Pregnancy Smart
Licorice Root Tea Alternatives During Pregnancy
How do the options compare?
The comparison below weighs mainstream OB guideline standing, the depth of the pregnancy evidence base, dosing clarity, expected onset, and interactions worth flagging to your provider.
| Option | Studied pregnancy dose | Guideline support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger tea | Food-level tea has no standardized pregnancy dose; research more often evaluates measured ginger supplements. | NCCIH says ginger may help pregnancy nausea and supplements may be safe, with clinician review recommended during pregnancy. | A practical swap when nausea is the reason for tea. Ginger can cause abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, or mouth irritation. |
| Peppermint leaf tea | An occasional brewed cup is a food-level use; long-term safety of large amounts is unknown. | NCCIH says peppermint tea appears safe and food amounts are likely safe during pregnancy, but medicinal amounts lack adequate evidence. | Caffeine-free and cooling rather than sweet. Peppermint may worsen heartburn for some people. |
| Rooibos tea | No pregnancy-specific dose or outcome evidence was identified in the reviewed primary sources. | Regard rooibos as a limited-evidence herbal product, not as a proven pregnancy-safe substitute. Choose a single-ingredient product and review it with the prenatal clinician. | Naturally caffeine-free, but caffeine-free does not establish pregnancy safety or product purity. |
| Regular or decaffeinated black tea | Count caffeine from all drinks and foods; ACOG advises keeping total pregnancy caffeine below 200 mg per day. | This is not an herbal tea, but it offers a familiar warm drink without licorice root. Decaffeinated still may contain a small amount of caffeine. | Check the label for added herbal blends because products marketed as chai or wellness tea may add licorice root. |
- NCCIH states that glycyrrhizin in licorice can cause serious adverse effects, including irregular heartbeat, and reports that large oral licorice exposure during pregnancy is unsafe and has been linked with delivery before 38 weeks. 1
- A Danish prospective cohort with birth information for 217 participants found daily licorice intake associated with a small increase in systolic blood pressure; lower birth weight estimates were not statistically significant and exposure relied on self-report. 2
- NCCIH says peppermint leaf tea appears safe and food-level oral peppermint is likely safe during pregnancy, while large amounts and medicinal use have limited pregnancy data and peppermint can worsen heartburn in some people. 3
- NCCIH reports that ginger may help pregnancy nausea and that ginger supplements may be safe during pregnancy, while advising clinician review because products, doses, side effects, and medicine interactions vary. 4
- MotherToBaby cautions that most herbal products have limited pregnancy evidence and can vary in ingredients and strength, contain contaminants, or interact with medicines, so each tea blend needs ingredient-level review. 5
Which option makes sense?
The options above differ in their evidence, limitations, and suitability. Inclusion in this comparison is not a recommendation. Please consult your healthcare provider before making a decision based on these findings.
Disclosure: Pregnancy Smart makes pregnancy supplements, though not in this category. This comparison is a plain description of the pregnancy evidence, not a sales page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is licorice root tea a concern during pregnancy?
Licorice root contains glycyrrhizin, which can raise blood pressure, disturb potassium balance, and cause serious heart effects at high exposure. NCCIH also links large pregnancy exposure with delivery before 38 weeks.
Does licorice tea raise blood pressure during pregnancy?
Licorice can raise blood pressure through glycyrrhizin. In a small Danish cohort, daily intake was associated with a modestly higher systolic pressure, but the study relied on self-report and included few daily users.
Is peppermint tea a reasonable substitute for licorice root tea?
Peppermint leaf tea has more reassuring food-level guidance than licorice root tea. NCCIH says it appears safe, but long-term use of large amounts and medicinal doses have limited pregnancy evidence.
Is ginger tea a useful licorice-free option for nausea?
Ginger may help pregnancy nausea, although studies more often use measured supplements than tea. A simple ginger tea avoids glycyrrhizin, but the strength is variable and ginger can worsen heartburn or interact with some medicines.
Is rooibos proven safe during pregnancy?
No strong human pregnancy outcome evidence was identified for rooibos. Its lack of caffeine is useful information, but it does not prove pregnancy safety, establish a dose, or guarantee that every product is free from contaminants.
Does decaffeinated herbal tea mean licorice-free?
No. Caffeine content and herbal ingredients are separate issues. A caffeine-free blend can still contain licorice root, so read the complete ingredient list rather than relying on the front-label caffeine claim.
Is deglycyrrhizinated licorice the same as licorice root tea?
No. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice has most glycyrrhizin removed, while ordinary licorice root tea can contain it. NCCIH says oral deglycyrrhizinated products might be safe for limited use generally, but that is not pregnancy-specific reassurance.
Can an herbal tea blend hide licorice root under another name?
Check for licorice, liquorice, licorice root, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, or sweet root. MotherToBaby also advises reviewing every ingredient because blends vary and can include unlisted contaminants or interacting herbs.
What should I do after drinking licorice root tea while pregnant?
Stop routine use and tell the prenatal clinician the product, ingredients, serving size, and frequency. Seek prompt advice if you feel unwell, have palpitations, or record high blood pressure rather than assuming one exposure determines the outcome.
Related in the library
Is it safe?
Is licorice safe during pregnancy?
Is it safe?
Are herbal teas safe during pregnancy?
Is it safe?
Is ginger tea safe during pregnancy?
Is it safe?
Is peppermint tea safe during pregnancy?
Ingredients
Deglycyrrhizinated licorice in pregnancy: evidence and safety
Is it safe?
Is rooibos tea safe during pregnancy?
Comparisons
Best nausea teas for pregnancy
References
Licorice Root: Usefulness and Safety
NCCIH · https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/licorice-root
PubMed Central · https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6320632/
Peppermint Oil: Usefulness and Safety
NCCIH · https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/peppermint-oil
NCCIH · https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ginger?page=2
MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/herbal-products-pregnancy/
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.