The transient species of gallic acid (GA) have been studied by 266 nm nanosecond laser flash photolysis in aqueous solution and acetonitrile. The intermediate with absorption at 320 nm was identified as excited triplet state (3GA*), the decay rates of which were obtained in aqueous solution and acetonitrile respectively. Energy transfer from 3GA* to β-carotene was observed and the energy transfer rate constant kent was determined to be 2.2 × 109 mol-1·L·s-1. GA underwent photoionization during photolysis and the quantum yield of photoionization was determined to be 0.12 at room temperature with KI as a reference.