Does my matcha latte have caffeine?

Matcha seems to be everywhere lately.

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Matcha lattes, matcha ice-cream, matcha-mochi, matcha Oreos. I even came across matcha Kit-Kats the other day....

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This unassuming green powder, with its inviting pistachio hue, is often thought of as a caffeine-free alternative to coffee and tea.

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Well, I am here to tell you without match-ado (get it?), that this powder has been incorrectly pigeon-holed.

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In fact, a matcha latte can often have a higher caffeine content than black or green tea. Take a look at our caffeine comparison below:

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Caffeine comparer

• decaffeinated coffee: 2–6mg per 250ml
• green tea: 30-50 mg per 250ml
• black tea: 65–105mg per 250ml
• matcha latte: 38–176 mg (using 1/2 - 1 tsp matcha)
• instant coffee: 80–120mg per 250ml
• espresso coffees such as espresso or latte: 105–110mg per 250ml
• energy drink: 80mg - 160 mg per 250 ml
• drip or percolated coffee: 150–240mg per 250ml

Quick facts

• matcha is a type of powdered green tea
• the plant grows in shade which helps it develop biologically active compounds such as theanine, caffeine and chlorophyll
• matcha is high in substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
• if had regularly, matcha may support the body’s efforts to maintain health and prevent disease - more research is still needed
• the caffeine content in all types of tea is dependent on timing of harvesting - the older the tea leaves, the lower the caffeine content
• the amount of caffeine also depends largely on the variety of tea plant, its growing conditions and the way it is processed and brewed

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How much is too matcha?

Just because matcha has caffeine, it doesn't mean you have to leave it out of your day (unless you need to for medical or other reasons) - just keep in mind that depending on how concentrated it is, you may get more caffeine from this type of green tea powder than you would from a shot of espresso.

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(It is thought that healthy adults can safely consume around 400mg of caffeine a day).

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References

Molecules. 2021 Jan; 26(1): 85.

Published online 2020 Dec 27. doi: 10.3390/molecules26010085

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Pic credits:

Photo by Matcha & CO on Unsplash