Can children drink tea? What science says

Tea is among the most consumed beverages worldwide, and it is sometimes offered to children. But is it safe? Between concerns (caffeine, fluoride, iron, concentrated extracts) and potential benefits (hydration, teeth), some answers can be found in the scientific literature.

Key takeaways

• No tea before 1 year old (risk of anemia in infants).
• < 2.5 mg/kg/day of caffeine (≈ 1–2 small cups) in children.
• Tea outside meals in case of anemia risk (1–2h before/after).
• Avoid highly fluoridated teas (e.g. some compressed teas such as Tibetan brick tea) in children.
• No green tea extracts for minors.

Caffeine: a stimulant to monitor

Tea contains significant amounts of caffeine: around 14–60 mg per cup depending on type and infusion. The effects of caffeine in children would be well documented. Studies by Temple (2009, 2019) and Ruxton (2014) suggest that moderate consumption — up to 2.5 mg/kg/day (about 1–2 small cups) — would not cause major adverse effects. Conversely, high doses (> 5 mg/kg/day) have been associated with sleep disturbances, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms.

A more recent systematic review (Torres-Ugalde, 2020) would nonetheless underline uncertainties: long-term effects on neurological development or metabolism remain poorly understood.

Did you know? Herbal teas not made from Camellia (rooibos, verbena, etc.) are naturally caffeine-free.

Iron and anemia: avoid tea in infants

Tea polyphenols would inhibit iron absorption. This was demonstrated as early as 1979 in metabolic studies in patients with thalassemia. Even more striking, a clinical study in Israel (Merhav, 1985) reported that 32% of infants given tea daily developed anemia, compared with only 3.5% in the control group. The message is clear: tea should not be given to babies. In older children, consuming tea outside meals (1–2h before/after) would limit its impact on iron absorption, as observed in adults.

Fluoride: a hidden concern

Tea is a natural source of fluoride. At moderate doses, fluoride improves dental health and may reduce the risk of cavities. But certain tea varieties and manufacturing processes, notably compressed teas consumed in Tibetan regions, may contain such high concentrations that they cause massive dental fluorosis in children (Cao, 1996; 1997). In Western contexts, where water is weakly fluoridated and tea consumption is moderate, this risk would be more limited. Still, highly fluoridated or atypical teas should be avoided in children.

Tea extracts: strictly avoid!

It is essential to distinguish brewed tea from concentrated extracts such as EGCG capsules. These may be hepatotoxic: one reported case in a teenage girl described acute liver failure (Patel, 2013). No concentrated green tea extracts should ever be given to minors.

Key figures on tea-related issues in children

2.5 mg/kg/day

Practical caffeine threshold

32% vs 3.5%

Anemia in infants (Merhav 1985): tea daily vs control

0

Green tea extracts for minors (recommendation)

1–2h

Gap before/after meals to drink tea

Dangers ↔ Solutions

Domain	Main risk	Practical solution
Caffeine	Sleep, anxiety if excessive	< 2.5 mg/kg/day; light tea; not in the evening
Iron	Inhibits absorption at meals	Tea 1–2h before/after meals
Fluoride	Fluorosis (high-fluoride Tibetan brick tea)	Avoid highly fluoridated/atypical teas in children
Extracts	Hepatotoxicity (concentrated EGCG)	Strictly avoid in minors

Conclusion

In children, tea could find its place provided a few simple rules are respected: no tea before 1 year; limit caffeine to 2.5 mg/kg/day (1–2 small cups); avoid highly fluoridated teas; strictly avoid concentrated extracts; drink outside meals, especially in case of anemia risk. A few cups of light teas (such as later multiple infusions), consumed without excess and properly timed, would be safe.

Read also

• Tea and pregnancy
• Tea and anemia
• Caffeine in tea

Bibliography

1. Temple JL. Caffeine use in children: what we know, what we have left to learn, and why we should worry. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2009;33(6):793-806.
2. Temple JL. Trends, Safety, and Recommendations for Caffeine Use in Children and Adolescents. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019;58(1):36-45.
3. Torres-Ugalde YC, et al. Caffeine Consumption in Children: Innocuous or Deleterious? A Systematic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(7):2489.
4. Ruxton CHS. The suitability of caffeinated drinks for children: a systematic review. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2014;27(4):342-357.
5. de Alarcón PA, et al. Iron absorption in the thalassemia syndromes and its inhibition by tea. N Engl J Med. 1979;300(1):5-8.
6. Merhav H, Amitai Y, Palti H, Godfrey S. Tea drinking and microcytic anemia in infants. Am J Clin Nutr. 1985;41(6):1210-3.
7. Cao J, Zhao Y, Liu J. Brick tea consumption as the cause of dental fluorosis among children. Food Chem Toxicol. 1997;35(8):827-833.
8. Patel S, et al. Adolescent with Acute Liver Failure due to Green Tea Extract. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2013;56(5):e39-e41.

FAQ – Tea and children

Can children drink tea?

Yes, but in moderation. Tea should not be given before 1 year old. After that, light tea (1–2 small cups/day) would generally be safe.

How much caffeine is safe for a child?

Scientific reviews suggest staying under 2.5 mg/kg/day. Above this level, sleep and anxiety issues have been reported.

Does tea cause anemia in children?

Tea polyphenols reduce iron absorption. In infants, daily tea has been linked to anemia. In older children, giving tea outside meals may reduce this risk.

Which teas should children avoid?

Highly fluoridated teas (like Tibetan brick tea) and concentrated green tea extracts should be avoided in minors.