Thai Tea, known in Thailand as Cha Yen, is traditionally made from a strong black tea base combined with sweetening agents like sugar and condensed milk, often infused with a unique blend of spices. For parents who are breastfeeding, questions often arise concerning the safety of certain foods and drinks. The distinct preparation of Thai Tea introduces several factors—caffeine, specific spices, and non-nutritional additives—that warrant consideration during the lactation period.
The Primary Ingredient: Caffeine Content
The primary ingredient in Thai Tea is black tea, which naturally contains caffeine, a stimulant that readily passes into breast milk. Although the concentration transferred to the infant is small (typically ranging from 0.06% to 1.5% of the maternal dose), the baby’s ability to process this substance is limited. An 8-ounce serving of Thai Tea generally contains between 20 to 60 milligrams of caffeine, but a strong brew can push that amount higher.
The half-life of caffeine is drastically prolonged in infants due to their immature liver function. In a newborn, the half-life can be as long as 80 to 100 hours, meaning the substance accumulates with repeated exposure. Excessive maternal caffeine intake is linked to symptoms in the baby like irritability, jitteriness, and difficulty sleeping. To avoid accumulation, health organizations suggest a maximum daily caffeine intake of 300 milligrams for breastfeeding parents, with some recommending a stricter limit of 200 milligrams.
Safety of Spices and Herbal Additives
Thai Tea’s characteristic flavor comes from aromatic spices. When these botanicals are consumed in typical culinary amounts, such as seasoning in a meal, they are generally considered safe during lactation. However, Thai Tea often uses these spices in a more concentrated form, which warrants caution.
One spice that raises specific questions is star anise, which contains anethole, a compound that can be excreted into breast milk. Anethole is considered a phytoestrogen and has been associated with neurotoxicity in rare cases of excessive maternal consumption. There is also a risk of accidental contamination with the highly toxic Japanese star anise, which is sometimes mistaken for the culinary variety. While moderate consumption of the common star anise is unlikely to cause harm, the lack of extensive safety data suggests a cautious approach to large, daily intakes of the spiced tea.
Assessing Artificial Colors and Sugar Load
Commercial Thai Tea mixes often introduce non-essential ingredients, such as food dyes and high levels of sugar. The beverage’s signature bright orange color often results from artificial colorings, such as Yellow No. 5 (Sunset Yellow FCF). While regulatory bodies generally recognize these dyes as safe, some studies have suggested a link between certain artificial colorings and hyperactivity in sensitive children.
Some parents choose to reduce or eliminate synthetic dyes from their diet during lactation, as these chemicals offer no nutritional benefit. Traditional Thai Tea is also prepared with substantial amounts of sugar and condensed milk, resulting in a high caloric and sugar content. The primary concern with this high sugar load is the impact on maternal health, contributing to excessive calorie intake and potential weight gain, rather than direct harm to the infant through breast milk.
Practical Guidelines for Enjoying Thai Tea
Breastfeeding parents can enjoy Thai Tea by practicing careful moderation and implementing specific consumption strategies. The most important step is to keep track of your total daily caffeine intake from all sources, ensuring it stays well below the 300-milligram maximum limit. Since caffeine levels in breast milk peak approximately one to two hours after consumption, timing your tea intake can help minimize infant exposure.
Drinking a single, moderate serving of Thai Tea immediately after a feeding allows the caffeine level to begin dropping before the next feeding session. Parents seeking to further reduce intake can request a version made with less black tea or ask for a decaffeinated black tea base. Reducing the amount of condensed milk and sugar is also a beneficial modification for maternal health. If your baby exhibits signs of caffeine sensitivity, such as unusual fussiness, wakefulness, or sleep disruption, temporarily stop consuming Thai Tea and monitor the infant’s behavior.