Is tea gluten-free? (2024)

Most teas come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and are naturally gluten-free provided they do not contain any added flavorings or other ingredients. Always read the label on anything you are going to ingest, including beverages such as tea. Look for a gluten-free label (many tea companies label the gluten-free status of their teas) and always contact the manufacturer if you are uncertain.

Teas That Contain Gluten

Some teas contain barley seed and those are not gluten-free. Barley seed can be mixed in with regular tea leaves or in herbal teas, as well as used on its own as a tea. Boricha is a type of Korean tea that is made from barley seed. Also, malted tea contains barley and is not gluten-free.

Note that barley, malt, and rye are not declared as allergens on the label - only wheat, so always read the ingredient listing carefully. Barley/malt can also hide in flavorings, contact the manufacturer if the source of the flavoring is not disclosed on the label. If wheat is included in the flavoring it has to be declared on the label per the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA).

Teas That May Contain Gluten

As noted above, be careful with any teas that are flavored, as gluten ingredients can hide in the flavoring. Herbal teas may also contain gluten ingredients or grains. Matcha tea which is a type of powdered green tea sometimes has wheat added to it. Also, watch out for sprouted seed tea which can be made from sprouts from gluten-containing grains. Always read the label carefully.

Check out the table below for types of teas:

Check out this post for how to do product research and how to contact the manufacturer:

https://nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/list-of-gf-foods/

Reference:

Types of Tea. Tea Class Website. https://www.teaclass.com/lesson_0102.html

Reviewed October 20, 2022.