Many of us are switching from coffee to matcha, for its green goodness, focus boost, and as an all-round healthier alternative. As people make the switch, many are left asking questions - and one of the most common is: Does matcha have caffeine in it?
You'd think it would be a straightforward yes or no answer - and though it can be, the devil is in the detail and we're going to unravel that in this post.
Some of you reading this will want caffeine in your morning drink; you love your cup of coffee, and only want to consider making the switch if you still get that very helpful sprinkle of caffeine to get your day started.
Some of you will be wanting to leave caffeine behind, because you're tired of the unstable levels of energy you're getting from it - surges that soar you into headache zone, then back down into a slump.
Well it's good news for all. Confused? Let me explain.
Does Matcha Have Caffeine?
The straight answer is yes, matcha does have caffeine in it. But it also has other compounds in it, specifically L-theanine, which balances out the effects of caffeine so that you unlock a stable, sustained, calm energy that isn't followed with a crash.
Back to caffeine for a moment, though. The caffeine in matcha isn't 'added' - it's part of the natural makeup of the tea leaves.
You'll find that a cup of matcha contains anything between 34mg and 70mg of caffeine. Generally speaking, matcha has less caffeine in it than coffee, but more caffeine than green tea, because you end up consuming the entire leaf.
Matcha Caffeine Factors
Because caffeine is a natural element in matcha, it all boils down to the leaf itself, and how it's been grown, harvested and processed.
How It's Grown & Prepared
Matcha is indeed grown by the same plant we get green tea from (Camellia sinensis), but here's the difference: green tea is grown in sunlight, while matcha is grown in the shade, covered with bamboo mats.
This process is what strengthens the nutritional profile in matcha, including the amino acids and chlorophyll. The leaves are then ground down with a stone, into a fine powder.
When it comes to preparing a matcha based drink, you mix this powder with hot (but not boiling) water, and ultimately drink the entire leaf and all its benefits, as opposed to green tea, where you typically only drink the infusion of the leaves.
All this is why matcha is stronger in caffeine than green tea - as we consume it in its richest form.
Grade of Matcha
The grade of matcha you purchase also has an impact. Higher-quality matcha - called ceremonial matcha - is made from younger leaves, and taken from the first harvest. Only the soft, sweeter parts of the leaves are used, with stems and veins carefully removed.
All these factors yield higher caffeine content.
In contrast, you have culinary matcha. This is used more for baking and cooking, and is lower-quality and has less caffeine in it. This is because the leaves are harvested later on in the year, and the stems and veins can be thrown in and ground down.
This gives a more bitter flavour which is suitable for cooking with, yet is not as enjoyable as the sweeter ceremonial grade matcha. Plus, the nutritional profile - including caffeine - is lower, courtesty of the age of the leaves.
So grade is very important. A good matcha like that used in Matcha Flow will be ceremonial grade, and offers higher levels of everything we love matcha for - including caffeine.
How Much Matcha Powder You Add
It goes without saying that the more you add to the cup, the more robust the benefits. However, this isn't always a good thing. The beauty of matcha is that the caffeine can be blended beautifully with other helpful ingredients - so you shouldn't need to go overboard.
Always follow manufacturer's instructions, and I'd avoid drinking it before bed too, or you will struggle to get to sleep.
Why Choose Matcha Over Coffee?
So why should you choose matcha over coffee? We've been drinking coffee by the bucket load for years and years, so why change now?
For most of us, it's the way the caffeine is balanced more sensibly in matcha, and how this is better for us in everyday life.
A Calmer Stimulant
The L-theanine in matcha is the main reason for me. With coffee, you don't have this; you get what feels like a mental adrenalin rush that enables you to power through for a little while, before crashing and needing another coffee top-up.
Matcha's godsend is the L-theanine - it's an amino acid that steps in to calm caffeine down to a sensible level, so that your focus is streamlined and balanced for longer. When I take Matcha Flow I experience this calm energy for around six hours, just from that one cup first thing in the morning, or late morning to power me through the entire afternoon. And this is because the L-theanine is slowing the caffeine from entering your bloodstream.
That is a massive improvement for my productivity and my mood. L-theanine calms without the fatigue, so you have the best of both worlds and the mental clarity we all seek.
More Health Benefits
It's healthier to drink a single cup of matcha than multiple cups of coffee all day. Matcha contains a lot more antioxidants - just one cup of it gives us three times more antioxidants than green tea!
The catechins in these antioxidants help reduce the number of free radicals in our body, which reduces our risk of chronic diseases, and helps:
- protect us from cellular damage
- support liver function
- promote heart health
Overall, it has a positive impact on our overall wellbeing way beyond what a cup of coffee can achieve.
It's More Convenient
Okay, so making a cup of coffee isn't difficult; but usually if something offers us more, it requires more input. Not with matcha. It's just a slightly different process.
All you have to do is add hot water, whisk it, and it's ready. And because it lasts longer, you only really need one a day. Convenience and consistency are key for getting the best results from anything, and matcha makes it easy for all lifestyles.
(There are fancier ways to modify a matcha, and you can even create treats with it - you can see our matcha recipes here)
Fresher Breath
Coffee can leave you with a funny taste; it often makes me feel thirsty, or as though I need a mint. It can also contribute to bad breath, because its high acidity and tannins can cause bacteria to thrive, all while staining your teeth, too. Great.
Matcha, on the other hand, has natural compounds that don't stain your teeth, and even neutralise oral bacteria, while the antimicrobial properties in it leave you with fresher breath.
Nicer Skin
Coffee can be bad for your skin, and it's known for triggering hormonal responses that aren't great for a clear complexion.
Matcha has lots in it to protect us from damage and stress, as well as detoxification elements to clear our skin.
And let's not forget that because you're only needing one cup of matcha in the morning, you'll more likely drink more water throughout the day - which is liquid gold for our complexion.
Why Choose Matcha Over Green Tea?
As mentioned, the entire way in which the tea leaf plant (Camellia Sinensis) is harvested, processed, and even consumed is vastly different between matcha and green tea.
There is more caffeine in matcha than green tea, but there's also more L-theanine. You add the entire powdered leaf into hot water with matcha and drink it, whereas with green tea, you drink only the infusions from it.
Every type of green tea is a reduced version of matcha, which is why you should opt for matcha if you want the most obvious improvements. Plus, with a blend like Matcha Flow, you get a collection of other superfood ingredients and vitamins added too.
Summary
So the answer to your question, is yes, matcha does have caffeine. Enough caffeine to give you the energy and focus you need each day, whilst perfectly balanced with L-theanine so that you can enjoy a calm mental clarity that lasts for hours.
With other benefits thrown into the mix - such as a heap of health improvements and convenience - it's clear why so many of us are opting for matcha over coffee and green tea.
It's a versatile ritual that's been appreciated for centuries, and is packed with goodness that's worth engraining into your own daily habit. Personally, I now opt for matcha over coffee every single day. If you're happy with a sensible amount of caffeine, try it, and see what you think.
