Can You Be Allergic to Green Tea?

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reports no safety concerns for green tea as a drink in adults. But allergic reactions to tea have been documented. They are not well studied, and this page can’t tell you whether you have one.

Can you be allergic to green tea?

Yes. The evidence is a handful of case reports, not large studies, so nobody can say how common it is.

• Drinking green tea: A 2017 case report in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology described possible anaphylaxis after drinking green tea. A 2021 report in Allergology International described what its authors called the first pediatric case of green tea-induced anaphylaxis.
• Breathing the dust: Studies in Japan of green tea factory workers found that EGCG, a major catechin in green tea leaves, can trigger asthma in some of them. In one study of 21 suspected patients, 11 had green tea-induced asthma.

An allergist answering a colleague’s question on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology site said there is very little published information on tea allergy from drinking it.

What are the symptoms?

Food allergy symptoms usually start within minutes to two hours after eating or drinking. MedlinePlus lists:

• Hives, flushing or a rash
• Tingling in the mouth
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
• Vomiting, diarrhea or belly cramps
• Coughing or wheezing
• Dizziness
• Trouble breathing

When is it an emergency?

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can start very quickly and can be life-threatening. MedlinePlus lists signs such as throat tightness, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, wheezing, a weak pulse and fainting. It says to call 911 for a serious allergic reaction, and to give an epinephrine auto-injector right away if one is available.

Don’t wait to see if it passes. If you have had a reaction like this, see a doctor even after it settles.

Could it be something else?

Yes. Several things can look like an allergy:

• Too much caffeine. The FDA lists a faster heart rate, palpitations, trouble sleeping, anxiety, jitters, an upset stomach, nausea and headaches. People vary widely in how sensitive they are. An intolerance, unlike an allergy, doesn’t involve the immune system and usually causes digestive symptoms.
• Another ingredient. Flavored and blended teas contain more than tea leaves, so the trigger may be something else in the cup. Note the brand and ingredient list for your doctor.
• Decaf isn’t automatically a safe swap. Decaf green tea is still made from tea leaves with most of the caffeine removed, so if you may be reacting to the tea itself, ask your doctor before switching. Caffeine in tea is covered in our guide to caffeine in jasmine green tea.

How is a tea allergy diagnosed?

A health care provider looks at your symptoms and history, and may use skin tests, blood tests, an elimination diet or an oral food challenge. MedlinePlus calls the oral food challenge the most accurate test.

Tea is tricky. The AAAAI allergist noted that the predictive value of tea-specific IgE tests has not been confirmed, and that the value of allergy testing with tea is not known. They described a supervised challenge as a process with real risk. So a normal test result may not settle the question. Don’t test yourself with tea at home if you’ve had a reaction.

Are other teas safe?

Green, black and oolong teas all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. The AAAAI allergist noted reports of people with green tea allergy who also reacted to black tea on skin tests, so ask an allergist before trying other teas. Our page on mixing green and black tea explains how they differ. EGCG and other tea polyphenols are also part of the story; see tannins in green tea.

More on tea and your health is in our green tea health guides.