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7 Best Lactation Teas for Breastfeeding Moms of 2024

Updated
Get the milk flowing with one of these delicious lactation teas.

Do you feel like you’re tapping a dry well every time you use your breast pump? Are you looking for a natural way to boost your milk supply?

Some women need a little help with their milk supply, and that’s nothing to be ashamed about. There are things you can do to aid this process.

We’ve been there and have tried all the options for increasing milk supply. Along the way, we decided to compile this list of all the best lactation teas — the ones that worked best for us and scored great reviews from hundreds of nursing moms. We’ve also added a helpful guide to explain everything you need to know about their milk-boosting properties.

Our Top Picks

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Image
Model
Product Comparison Table
Features

Product Image of the Traditional Medicinals
All Around Herbal Superstar
Traditional Medicinals
  • Certified organic
  • Caffeine free
  • Contains fenugreek seed
Product Image of the Upspring Lactation
Powder Mix
Upspring Lactation
  • Great chai flavor
  • Natural ingredients
  • Can be drunk hot or cold
Product Image of the Herb Lore Organic
Lovely Without Licorice
Herb Lore Organic
  • Organic tea
  • Contains fennel
  • Good option for women with twins
Product Image of the The Republic of Tea
Pure And Natural
The Republic of Tea
  • All-organic products
  • Unbleached tea bags
  • Zero calories and gluten-free
Product Image of the Earth Mama Angel Baby
Caffeine-Free Convenience
Earth Mama Angel Baby
  • Certified kosher
  • Formulated by nurse herbalist
  • 100% organic
Product Image of the Oat Mama Tea
Delicious And Fenugreek-Free
Oat Mama Tea
  • No overpowering licorice flavor
  • Easy to prepare
  • Comes in more than one flavor
Product Image of the Pink Stork Herbal Mint
Delicious Hot or Cold
Pink Stork Herbal Mint
  • Enjoy this tea hot or cold
  • Organic herbal blend
  • Yummy mint flavor


The Best Lactation Teas of 2024

Here are the top lactation teas on the market.

Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk Lactation Tea

All Around Herbal Superstar

Women who want to incorporate several galactagogues into their lactation tea will feel like their bases are covered because this one has five — blessed thistle, fenugreek, coriander, anise, and fennel.

But women who are allergic to parsley or chamomile should stay away from this because it could trigger symptoms from that allergy.

While this tea can have a strong smell right out of the box, many moms say the taste is better than the smell.

Moms who like to take in a daily dose of inspiration along with their tea will like how the tags come with positive quotes on them. These are a sweet and encouraging little bonus in addition to the tea’s milk-boosting properties.

Pros

  • Certified organic.
  • Caffeine-free option.
  • Contains fenugreek seed.

Cons

  • Requires ten minutes for steeping.
  • This tea has a licorice-like flavor some women might not enjoy.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Taste
3.5 / 5
Ingredients
4.5 / 5
Safety
3.5 / 5
Total Rating
3.75 / 5

User Experience

When I first tried this lactation tea, I was looking to boost my milk supply while enjoying a delicious beverage. The organic herbs in the tea, like fennel, anise, and fenugreek, create a unique and soothing flavor that I personally enjoy, even though my family doesn't quite understand it! While I didn't notice a significant increase in my milk supply, I did find myself drinking more liquids in general, which may have led to a slight boost. This tea is USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Verified, Kosher, and Caffeine-Free, making it a safe and natural option for both me and my baby. The preparation is simple – just steep a tea bag in boiling water for 10 minutes, squeeze, and enjoy!

Upspring Lactation Tea Chai Latte

Powder Mix

This powder chai latte is a delicious, warming, and calming tea. It’s easy to make and has a boatload of benefits. This includes the promotion of a healthy milk supply, increasing a mother’s fluid intake, a great taste, and lactation consultants recommend it.

It works with your body to naturally support the hormones that supply your milk. This naturally sourced drink will get your milk flowing, so feeding your little one is a bit easier.

It’s a super-concentrated formula that contains three breast milk boosters: fenugreek, blessed thistle, and anise. You should take this one to three times per day as a tasty alternative to fenugreek pills. You can enjoy this hot or cold.

Pros

  • Only chai-flavored fenugreek lactation supplement on the market.
  • Helps promote milk supply.
  • Natural ingredients.
  • You can drink it hot or cold — or as a smoothie!

Cons

  • Doesn’t mix well.
  • Not a very authentic chai taste.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4.5 / 5
Taste
4 / 5
Ingredients
4 / 5
Safety
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Personal Perspective

My experience with this powder chai latte has been quite positive, as it's a delicious and comforting beverage that offers numerous benefits for nursing mothers. I found that it helped promote a healthy milk supply and increased my fluid intake, which made feeding my baby a bit easier. The natural ingredients, including fenugreek, blessed thistle, and anise, work together to support lactation. I enjoyed the flexibility of drinking it hot, cold, or even as a smoothie. However, I did notice that it doesn't mix very well and the chai taste wasn't as authentic as I would have liked, but overall, it's a convenient and tasty alternative to fenugreek pills for nursing mothers.

Herb Lore Organic Nursing Tea

Lovely without Licorice

Some women love to use loose leaf tea because they worry about the chemicals and potential toxins in tea bags, which have sometimes been bleached. If you’re one of these women, you’ll appreciate that Herb Lore tea is a loose leaf tea, so you can skip the teabag.

This tea contains moringa, which has a great reputation for upping your breast milk production. Plus, moringa is loaded with vitamins, protein, iron, antioxidants, and amino acids.

Because this tea doesn’t have anise in it, it doesn’t taste like licorice, which is nice for moms who don’t like that flavor and have to contend with seemingly every lactation tea tasting the same.

And since this is a loose leaf tea, you can control the amount you want to use, which is nice for moms who like their tea a little stronger but don’t want to use two tea bags for one cup.

Pros

  • This tea is organic.
  • It contains fennel, which is one of the more powerful galactagogues.
  • Strong galactagogues make this a good option for moms of twins.

Cons

  • Doesn’t contain fenugreek, which some moms prefer to have.
  • Requires 15 to 20 minutes of steeping — that’s a long time for a busy mom.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
3.5 / 5
Taste
4 / 5
Ingredients
4.5 / 5
Safety
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Community Feedback

I started drinking this tea three times a day and noticed a slight increase in my milk supply, although I can't say for sure if it was due to the tea or my baby's feeding pattern. On the plus side, my skin and lips have improved significantly, feeling softer and more moisturized. The taste is better than other lactation teas I've tried, but you definitely need a tea ball or reusable tea bag to avoid fine herb particles floating around. While the results may vary for each person, I find the chamomile addition delightful and the price reasonable for the amount of tea in the bag.

The Republic of Tea Fenugreek Lactation Tea

Pure and Natural

This tea makes use of organic fenugreek seeds, one of the most popular and powerful herbs for increasing your milk supply so you can pump more milk. The tea contains organic cinnamon, which really improves the flavor. The only other ingredient is carrot. Because it uses all-organic products, moms don’t have to worry about pesticides.

Packed in unbleached tea bags, this is a good pick for anyone worried about the harmful chemicals in processed tea bags. There are no tags or strings on these bags either, and the blend contains no gluten. Overall you can be confident that each all-natural cup is doing something great for your baby.

Pros

  • It’s organic.
  • No bleach in the tea bags.
  • The cinnamon adds to the flavor.

Cons

  • Lacks the convenience of teabags.
  • It’s a bit pricier than some other options.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Taste
3.5 / 5
Ingredients
5 / 5
Safety
4.5 / 5
Total Rating
4.25 / 5

First-Hand Impression

I'm impressed by the effectiveness of this nursing tea in increasing milk production for breastfeeding mothers. Personally, I noticed a significant increase in milk supply just 30 minutes after consuming three to four cups. The taste is pleasant, reminiscent of cinnamon, and it's more enjoyable than other similar products I've tried. However, some users have reported stomach issues and sensitivity, so it might not be suitable for everyone.

Earth Mama Angel Baby Lactation Tea

Caffeine-free Convenience

This tea also contains many herbs that encourage more milk, including fennel, fenugreek, milk thistle seed, anise seed, and caraway seed. Having so many herbs that help with production will make some moms feel they’re doing everything in their power to drum up some extra milk for their babies.

Moms who want to use natural products that haven’t been tampered with or genetically engineered in any way will like that these herbs are GMO-free. There are so many things to worry about as a mom, and the safety of your food and drinks shouldn’t be yet another thing.

This brew is naturally caffeine-free, which will ease the worries of moms who plan to drink several cups of it every day.

Pros

  • This is certified kosher.
  • A nurse herbalist formulated this tea.
  • It’s 100 percent organic.

Cons

  • Some moms said they had to improve the flavor by adding honey or sugar.
  • This tea is a little pricier than some others on the market.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Taste
3 / 5
Ingredients
4.5 / 5
Safety
4.5 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

User Experience

This lactation tea has its pros and cons. On the positive side, it helped increase my milk supply and had a unique maple syrup smell. However, after about a week of use, I noticed that my son became increasingly gassy and fussy, which led me to stop using the tea. The taste was not my favorite, but adding honey made it more tolerable.

Oat Mama Lactation Tea

Delicious and Fenugreek-free

If you’re a fan of flavored tea and you’re searching for ways to bolster your breastmilk supply as your child grows, take a deep breath and don’t worry, mama. Like the ones made by Oat Mama, Fenugreek-free teas can be an effective way of boosting your flow without any unpleasant side effects, such as body odor.

These teas are also caffeine-free, which is one less thing for you to worry about. They don’t contain any calories, and they’ll help you get the extra water you’ll need when you’re breastfeeding.

Unlike some lactation teas, this doesn’t taste like black licorice or fenugreek, which can be a turn-off for some moms.

The flavors, such as the blueberry pomegranate blend, are made from organic herbs and natural fruit flavors. You’ll get a pleasant taste and still feel like you’re doing all you can for your milk supply with every sip.

Pros

  • This doesn’t have that overpowering licorice flavor some lactation teas do.
  • Doesn’t contain fenugreek, which can cause a strong body odor in many people.
  • Easy to prepare.
  • Comes in more than one flavor.

Cons

  • On the pricey side.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
3.5 / 5
Taste
4.5 / 5
Ingredients
4 / 5
Safety
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Personal Perspective

My experience with this lactation tea has been quite positive overall. The berry and cinnamon flavors are both tasty and refreshing, and the quality of the ingredients is evident in the dried fruits within the tea bags. While I can't attribute a boost in milk production solely to the tea, as I also take lactation cookies and supplements, it seems to have a helpful effect when used in conjunction with these other products. One downside is the short strings on the tea bags, which can be a bit inconvenient for use with deeper mugs. Additionally, the price is a bit higher compared to other brands, but the quality makes it worth the expense.

Pink Stork Herbal Mint Lactation Tea

Delicious Hot or Cold

You never know when those pregnancy cravings will hit and change your appetite. This special lactation tea was created to be delicious hot or cold, so you can enjoy it no matter what you’re craving.

It’s got a sweet and tasty blend of organic herbs, including fennel, fenugreek, anise, and spearmint. Overall, this tea has a yummy mint flavor and is best prepared by steeping each tea bag in boiling water for five minutes. It’s most effective when taken 1-3 times a day.

We love the special pyramid teabag design, which holds a larger and more flavorful portion of tea. The formula works to boost milk production and flow while helping your baby’s digestion issues, colic, and gas. It’s also great to help busy moms stay hydrated.

You get 15 tea sachets in a box, making 30 cups of tea — each sachet makes two cups. Since you can enjoy it cold, we suggest making a cup to drink hot and then storing the other in the fridge.

Pros

  • Enjoy this tea hot or cold.
  • Organic herbal blend improves milk flow, production, and taste.
  • The yummy mint flavor is strong and delicious.

Cons

  • Tea may go to waste if you can’t drink two cups in one sitting and don’t want to store the rest.

Our Ratings

Effectiveness
4 / 5
Taste
4.5 / 5
Ingredients
4 / 5
Safety
4 / 5
Total Rating
4 / 5

Community Feedback

From the moment I started using Pink Stork Liquid Gold tea, I noticed a significant difference in my milk supply. As someone who isn't typically a tea drinker, I was pleasantly surprised by the pleasant taste and ease of drinking this tea. I experimented with different ways of preparing it, and found that steeping the tea bag in a container with 3 cups of hot water for an hour produced the best taste for me. The only downside to this product is that you only get 10 tea bags for $11.99, but the results are worth it.

What Is Lactation Tea?

People have used herbs and teas for thousands of years for various purposes and ailments, including low milk supply. Certain herbs, such as fennel, anise, coriander, and fenugreek, are known to help women produce more milk. This is important today, and it was crucial in the days where you couldn’t buy formula to supplement your baby’s needs.

If it’s worked for that many years, it’s worth a try to see how much it can help you.

Keep In Mind

If you want to try lactation tea, one of the herbs you want to check out is fenugreek — it’s a real star amongst breast-milk-boosting herbs.

Who Can Benefit From Lactation Tea?

Moms who are low on milk might want to consider lactation tea. Lactation tea can also help moms who are trying to build a freezer stash for when they return to work. However, when trying to boost milk supply quickly, it’s always best not to put all your eggs in one basket.

You should try other tips as well, especially if you’re opposed to supplementing with formula in case your milk supply doesn’t respond as well as you’d hoped.

And if you decide you’re going to try a galactagogue (which is just a fancy name for an herb that’s used to boost up breast milk supply), try more than one in your tea. Adding additional herbs may do you more good than just having one, and it can also enhance the flavor of the tea.


Is Lactation Tea Safe?

The biggest no-no you’ll sometimes hear about drinking tea while breastfeeding is related to the caffeine content. As your doctor has probably told you, caffeine can impact your baby by making them jittery.

But lactation teas are generally caffeine-free, so that means you’re in the clear, right? Not so fast. First, you should consult with your doctor or medical professional. The problem is that not all herbal teas are created equal.

Some teas are safe during pregnancy, while others are questionable or should be avoided. If you’re thinking about trying lactation herbs, here are some things to check first.

  • Make sure it doesn’t contain much caffeine, especially if you’ll be drinking several cups a day.
  • Check the list of ingredients and make sure your doctor signs off on them.
  • Avoid drinking any teas that contain plants you’re allergic to or that cause you any sensitivities.
  • Don’t buy anything that isn’t labeled clearly.
  • Only buy your teas from a trusted source.
  • If you’re taking any medications, ask a pharmacist to ensure the tea won’t interact with the active ingredient in your medications.

What Teas to Avoid While Breastfeeding

There are certain herbs your doctor will tell you to stay away from. The list is long and can include teas that have the following fairly popular herbs or plants as an ingredient (1):

  • Ginseng.
  • Valerian.
  • Kava-kava.
  • Star anise.
  • Ginkgo.
  • Aloe.
  • Licorice.
  • Basil.
  • Rhubarb root.

That isn’t a complete list of herbs to avoid — just some of the more common and popular options. When in doubt, always consult your doctor.

Other teas can have the opposite effect of what you’re looking for. If you use the wrong herbs, they can decrease your milk supply. To ensure this doesn’t happen, stay away from the following herbs (2):

  • Sage.
  • Menthol.
  • Mint teas — you can use a little of these if your baby has colic because it may help soothe their tummy if they get the benefits through your breast milk, but don’t overdo it.
  • Lemon balm.
  • Oregano.
  • Parsley.
  • Thyme.
  • Yarrow.
  • Chickweed.
  • Black Walnut.
  • Sorrel.

How Much Lactation Tea Should I Drink Per Day?

You’ll want to try to drink about three cups a day. Depending on your taste buds, you may love the taste. If you don’t, try to improve the flavor by adding a bit of sugar or honey. If that isn’t doing the trick, add a little juice to see if that helps.

Some people like to drink their lactation teas hot, but if you’re not a hot tea type of person, you can easily put it over ice.

Quick Note

After you’ve tried a tea for a few days and have noticed an increase in your milk supply, try cutting back by a cup or two per day, and see if that makes a difference in your supply. You might find that your supply will continue at the rate it reached after you started drinking lactation tea. If it drops back down, you can always add a glass or two back into your diet.

Regardless of how your supply does, you shouldn’t stay on these teas permanently. You should constantly try to wean yourself off. If you don’t take short breaks from them, your body can get used to them, and they may eventually stop helping your milk supply.

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Lactation Tea FAQs

How Quickly Does Lactation Tea Work?

Every lactation tea is a little different. Make sure you read the back of the box of tea you buy, because there you’ll find how long the tea takes to work and how much of it you should drink.

Some teas need to be drunk a few times a day to see results, so it might be worth it to research the tea you most want before purchasing.

Does Chamomile Tea Affect Milk Supply?

There is an ongoing debate about this. Some moms have found that drinking chamomile tea has upped their milk supply by 20%.

If you like the taste of chamomile tea or are having difficulties producing milk, this tea might be a good fit for you. Still, other sources claim this doesn’t work and that you shouldn’t drink this tea in excess while breastfeeding.

Is Raspberry Leaf Tea Good for Breastfeeding?

The science around teas and breastfeeding is… tricky. While it’s true raspberry leaf tea is great for female reproductive health overall, there isn’t any solid evidence drinking it will increase milk supply.

Some moms swear by it and say that it does help increase their milk supply, so this tea could be worth a shot.

What Chinese Herbs to Avoid While Breastfeeding?

There are several types of Chinese herbs to avoid while breastfeeding to ensure your little one’s nervous system develops correctly. Make sure to stay away from:

  • Huangbo
  • Luhui
  • Huanglian
  • Dahuang
  • Wuzuyu
  • Fanxieye
  • Kushengen

What Is the Best Drink for Lactation?

Our favorite lactation drink is the Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk Lactation Tea. Moms everywhere praise this tea for doing what it’s supposed to do-increasing milk supply in a clean, organic way.

Another huge plus is that this tea is caffeine-free, so you won’t have to worry about excess caffeine infiltrating your milk supply.


The Bottom Line

One of the best lactation teas you can get is the Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk tea. With five organic galactagogues packed in this tea, you’ll be doing everything you can herbally to stimulate your production. Plus, it has fenugreek, one of the best herbs you can use to increase your supply.

We also love the inspirational quotes on the tags. What mom doesn’t like a message that makes her feel good or think about her life and purpose in the midst of a busy day?

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Headshot of Jennifer Schlette, MSN, RN

Reviewed by

Jennifer Schlette, MSN, RN

Jennifer Schlette MSN, RN, is a pediatric intensive care nurse at Children's Hospital of New York for the past 14 years. Jennifer also has extensive experience teaching Maternity and Obstetric Nursing, as well as Pediatrics Nursing.