“Rooibos is perfectly fine!” This is likely one of the pieces of advice you’ve heard since becoming pregnant. And honestly, once you’ve been told to cut back on your favorite coffee or tea, it’s nice to have something you can enjoy without restriction.
But why is rooibos such a great and safe choice during pregnancy? We’ve looked into it for you.
What the Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) says
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre is very clear about it: herbal teas such as rooibos, chamomile, ginger, mint, and fruit tea can be consumed with peace of mind during your pregnancy.
The interesting part is in the details. For some types of tea, there is a clear limit. For instance, it is advised to limit licorice tea and star anise to a maximum of 1 to 1.5 cups per day, and it is better to avoid herbs such as fennel, anise, and cinnamon for a while.
There is no maximum for rooibos. And that is no coincidence: rooibos does not naturally contain any substances that require restriction. It is therefore one of the rare drinks in your daily routine that you don’t have to keep track of. No monitoring budgets like with coffee or black tea, just carefree enjoyment.
Why rooibos is different from traditional tea
Rooibos does not officially come from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), but from the Aspalathus linearis: a shrub that grows exclusively in the South African Cederberg region, exactly where our rooibos comes from. That botanical difference provides two important benefits:
1. Naturally 100% caffeine-free
Where black, green, and white tea always contain caffeine, the rooibos plant simply does not produce it. A comprehensive scientific review from 2024 (Beverages) therefore describes rooibos as naturally caffeine-free.
That is a significant difference from decaffeinated coffee. With decaf, an average of about 3 mg of caffeine remains per cup after processing. Nothing has ever been removed from rooibos, because it was never there to begin with. It therefore never counts toward your daily caffeine budget. Furthermore, you can drink it at any time of the day, including in the evening.
2. Friendly to your iron levels
This is a point often overlooked, but highly relevant right now. The tannins in traditional tea can reduce the absorption of plant-based iron from your diet. A well-known study (Hurrell, Reddy, and Cook, British Journal of Nutrition, 1999) showed that black tea consumed with a meal can significantly inhibit iron absorption.
During pregnancy, your body produces a lot of extra blood and your baby is building its own supply. It is not for nothing that your iron levels are closely monitored at every check-up. Anemia is one of the most common findings during these check-ups.
Traditional black and green tea contain high amounts of tannins, which make it harder for your body to absorb the plant-based iron from your food. Rooibos naturally contains significantly fewer tannins. Although it does not actively increase your iron absorption, it simply gets in the way of absorbing iron from your food much less. A nice bonus, and the reason why rooibos has such a wonderfully mild taste.
The moment of indulgence back in your day
Safety is one thing, but of course, you are looking for something that is truly delicious. When you cut back on your daily coffee moments, you don't always miss the caffeine itself, but especially the relaxation surrounding it. The whole feeling around the ritual of brewing coffee, the aroma, and that moment of peace for yourself.
With Rooipresso®, you maintain that familiar feeling. It is pure rooibos, but ground so finely that you can prepare it using your own coffee machine. You press the familiar button and watch that creamy layer of crema form. Then, pour in some frothed milk for a delicious, caffeine-free rooibos cappuccino just like in Cape Town (also known as a rooicino). The mild taste of rooibos combines fantastically with the creaminess of milk or a plant-based alternative like oat milk. This is how you make the perfect rooibos cappuccino →
Choose the form that suits you
Whether you quickly pop a capsule into your machine or take the time to brew a cup with a portafilter, you don't need to purchase any new equipment.
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Rooipresso® Capsules |
Rooipresso® Ground |
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Price |
€5.95 |
€10.95 |
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For |
Nespresso® machines |
Espresso machine, moka pot, French press |
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Useful if |
you want to start as quickly and easily as possible |
you want to dose yourself and get more cups out of one package |
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Caffeine |
0 mg |
0 mg |
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Capsule material |
recyclable aluminum |
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→ View the capsules (€5.95) · → View the ground rooibos (€10.95)
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Honest and transparent about rooibos
Rooibos is known for its unique antioxidants, such as aspalathin and nothofagin. In laboratory settings, these substances show strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Still, we like to remain transparent: the 2024 human scientific review shows that there is currently insufficient large-scale evidence to make definitive health claims.
We sell rooibos, and we say this anyway. Because it’s true, and because in this phase of your life you already encounter enough people promising you all sorts of things. Rooibos doesn't need to be a medical miracle elixir at all. It is a delicious, warm, and naturally caffeine-free drink that you can enjoy without restriction, and that is quite enough.
The full picture
For the sake of completeness, we also mention what you rarely read on packaging. In medical literature, there are a few very rare cases (such as a report by Sinisalo et al. from 2010) where long-term, extremely high consumption of rooibos was linked to abnormal liver values.
What does that mean in practical terms? It concerns very isolated cases involving amounts that no one would consume during normal use, with no proven causal link. Health authorities, including the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, therefore see no reason for restrictions or a maximum intake for rooibos.
We don't mention this because you need to worry about your daily cup, but simply because we believe you have the right to the honest and complete story.
Frequently asked questions
How much rooibos can I have per day during my pregnancy?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre does not set a maximum for rooibos. You can enjoy it safely and without limit during your pregnancy.
Is there really no caffeine at all in rooibos?
No, absolutely none. Rooibos comes from a plant that naturally does not produce caffeine. With decaf coffee, the caffeine is removed afterward (often leaving ~3 mg behind), but rooibos is 100% caffeine-free by nature.
Does Rooipresso® work in my own machine?
Yes! The capsules fit directly into your Nespresso® original machine. If you use an espresso machine, moka pot, or French press, choose the ground variant.
Does it taste exactly like coffee?
No, rooibos has its own unique, mild, and slightly sweet character without the bitterness of a coffee bean. What you do retain is the full experience and convenience of a deliciously warm drink, which is also completely caffeine-free, from your own machine. Add frothed milk to make a fantastic rooibos cappuccino.
Does rooibos inhibit my iron absorption?
Rooibos contains significantly fewer tannins than black and green tea, meaning it barely affects iron absorption. If you want to be on the safe side, preferably drink hot beverages between meals.
Can I also drink rooibos while breastfeeding?
Absolutely. Rooibos is free of caffeine and therefore has no influence on your breast milk or your baby's sleep cycle.
Try it for the price of one cup away from home
With Rooipresso®, you effortlessly bring that familiar moment of indulgence back into your home.
Furthermore, part of every purchase goes to the Rooi Roots Fund, with which we support projects focused on nature, communities, and opportunities for children in South Africa, where our rooibos originates. Good from the ground up.
Order Rooipresso® Capsules (€5.95) →
Order Rooipresso® Ground (€10.95) →
Free shipping from €50 · 2–5 working days · unopened packaging can be returned within 14 days
Want to know everything about caffeine and your daily budget?
Read our comprehensive guide: Coffee and pregnancy: how much caffeine is okay? →
Sources
- Voedingscentrum. Rooibos tea — can I eat/drink this while pregnant? — voedingscentrum.nl
- Voedingscentrum. How much coffee and tea can you drink if you are pregnant or breastfeeding? — voedingscentrum.nl
- Speer KE, Marnewick JL, Davies SEH, et al. The Effect of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) Consumption on Human Health Outcomes: A Systematic Literature Review. Beverages, 2024;10(4):113. — mdpi.com
- Hurrell RF, Reddy M, Cook JD. Inhibition of non-haem iron absorption in man by polyphenolic-containing beverages. British Journal of Nutrition, 1999;81(4):289–295. — cambridge.org
- Sinisalo M, Enkovaara J, Kivistö KT. Possible hepatotoxic effect of rooibos tea: a case report. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2010;66(4):427–428. — springer.com
Last updated: August 2026
This article has been compiled with care based on public guidelines and scientific publications. It serves as general information and does not constitute medical advice. For questions about your specific situation, always consult your midwife or doctor.