Green tea is generally considered fine in moderation during pregnancy, as long as it fits within your daily caffeine limit. It does contain caffeine, so it isn't a "drink freely" beverage. This reflects guidance from ACOG, the NHS, and the FDA on caffeine in pregnancy.
Green tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Unlike herbal or fruit teas, it naturally contains caffeine. A typical cup has roughly 30 to 50mg of caffeine, less than coffee but more than most people expect. It also contains plant compounds called catechins, including EGCG.
The main concern is caffeine. ACOG advises keeping caffeine under 200mg a day in pregnancy, and the NHS sets a similar 200mg limit. Green tea usually leaves you plenty of room, but it still counts toward that total alongside coffee, cola, and chocolate. Separately, the catechin EGCG may interfere with how the body uses folate, which matters in early pregnancy, so very high intakes or concentrated green tea supplements are not advised.
Track your caffeine across the whole day, not just tea, and stay under the 200mg limit ACOG and the NHS recommend. Avoid green tea extract capsules and concentrated supplements, which the FDA has linked to rare liver harm and which deliver far more EGCG than a cup of tea. If you want a warm drink with no caffeine, decaffeinated green tea, rooibos, ginger, or peppermint tea are common lower-risk choices. Check with your provider before using any tea medicinally.