Buying guide for Best matcha teas

If you’re a green tea drinker, you’re probably already aware of the beverage’s health benefits, from a healthier heart to weight loss to cancer-fighting antioxidants. Matcha is an ultra-concentrated powder form of green tea that turbocharges these nutritional benefits — and you — with a larger dose of caffeine.

When you drink matcha, or the currently on-trend matcha latte, you’re ingesting the whole leaf of the Camellia sinensis plant from which regular green tea also comes. Tea leaves for matcha are grown differently, however, and ground into a fine powder. This bright green powder boasts way more antioxidants and caffeine than green tea and other beneficial nutrients like chlorophyll.

You can make a traditional hot tea from matcha, or you can add the powder to smoothies or recipes. The quality of matcha teas on the market ranges widely, from ceremonial to culinary grades, but not all matcha powders are created equal. 

Purer matcha teas that adhere to more stringent standards, including lower pesticide use, tend to be manufactured in Japan. Though quality comes at a higher price tag, opt for a product from Japan over lower-cost Chinese matcha teas.

Key considerations

What is matcha tea?

Matcha tea has been invading the marketplace, and it can be spotted on the shelves of health food stores, on celebrities’ Instagrams, and even in skincare products. Matcha dates back nearly a thousand years to Chinese Zen Buddhist monks who prepared the tea in ritual ceremonies. Matcha made its way to Japan where it became celebrated in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for hundreds of years, and today the country produces the finest matcha in the world.

Though green tea and matcha come from the same plant, the tea plants for matcha are shaded from the sun for nearly a month before harvesting, which boosts their chlorophyll and amino acid content. It also gives the plant a darker hue. The whole leaf is ground into the powder that makes matcha tea, which means tea drinkers are drinking the whole leaf, not just leaves brewed in water (regular green tea). One glass of matcha has ten times the nutrients of one glass of green tea.

Benefits of matcha

Caffeine: One value of matcha as compared to green tea is it has double the caffeine content. Ceremonial-grade matcha contains 70 milligrams (mg) of caffeine while regular green tea contains 35 mg. If you’re trying to kick coffee, switching to matcha is a healthier choice, with two-thirds the amount of caffeine compared to a cup of joe.

L-theanine: Matcha also provides a non-jittery energy without the crash of coffee, thanks to the amino acid L-theanine. L-theanine is known to relax the mind and, in combination with caffeine, provide sustained, calm alertness. This is why matcha is thought to be popular with Buddhist monks for meditation purposes. L-theanine is also present in green tea but is five times higher in matcha thanks to the shaded growing technique. This mood-enhancing amino acid also increases alpha-wave activity in the brain, which decreases stress levels and helps with anxiety. 

Chlorophyll: The high chlorophyll content of matcha tea, resulting in matcha powder’s rich green color, is an effective detoxifier of the body, naturally flushing out toxins and heavy metals. Studies have also found that drinking matcha tea can help the liver and reduce levels of liver enzymes that indicate damage.

Catechins: Matcha tea contains sky-high levels of catechins, a group of powerful, disease-fighting antioxidants. Compared to regular green tea, matcha tea contains 137 times the amount of the catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has also shown cancer-fighting potential in test-tube studies. Catechins stop oxidative damage to cells, which may prevent chronic diseases including cancer.

And more: Other benefits of the caffeine plus L-theanine combo include improved brain function, especially among the elderly. Matcha tea boosts athletic performance, thanks to the high dose of EGCG, and speeds up post-workout recovery. It also provides energy to people suffering from fatigue. Green tea in general is known to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as lower LDL cholesterol. Lastly, green tea is thought to speed up the metabolism and boost fat burning in the body.

Packaging

Matcha tea typically comes as a powder in resealable, opaque bags or lidded canisters. Both of these protect the powder from overexposure to oxygen, which will compromise the product and turn it a dull, brownish color. However brands also offer packets of 12 to 20 single servings of matcha, which are convenient if you’re on the go.

Powder vs. tea bags: The most authentic matcha tea comes in powder form. However, a pure powder doesn’t come cheaply. For a less-expensive option, matcha tea bags are available. However, be aware that “matcha” tea bags are mixed with regular green tea and typically contain less than 3% of the powder. Without ingesting the leaves themselves, as you do in the powder form, you’re getting significantly fewer of the benefits.

Grade

Ceremonial-grade matcha tea is best for drinking. It’s made from the youngest tea leaves; the stems and veins are removed before processing into a powder. It’s blended to be smooth, naturally sweet, and strong when whisked in hot water.

Culinary-grade matcha tea is designed for cooking and blended to be mixed with other ingredients, like adding to a green smoothie or baked goods. You can certainly use it for beverages as well, though it may taste more astringent. Culinary-grade matcha tea is less expensive than ceremonial grade.

Matcha tea features

Sweetened

While matcha tea purists will insist that you should only buy products with “matcha” listed as the sole ingredient, there are a number of matcha tea powders sweetened with sugar and other natural sweeteners and some that are mixed with powdered milk. These mixes are often used for coffee-shop matcha lattes.

Stone-ground

These products are ground to a powder using a stone mill versus a machine that produces “industrial”-grade matcha tea. Stone-ground matcha tastes superior because of the molecular shape produced by this more authentic process.

Organic

Nonorganic matcha teas are cultivated with the use of pesticides and other agrochemicals, which get ultraconcentrated in a powder form. Organic matcha teas don’t use harmful pesticides, but these products are significantly more expensive than nonorganic.

Matcha tea prices

Matcha green tea powder ranges in price from $1 to $28 an ounce.

Inexpensive

For an inexpensive, culinary-grade matcha powder, you can expect to pay $1 to $8 an ounce. Organic products are widely available in this price range. 

Mid-range

For a mid-priced culinary grade or entry-level ceremonial grade, expect to pay $9 to $19 an ounce. These are by and large organic and generally from Japan.

Expensive

A premium, ceremonial-grade matcha powder from Japan, often from regions famous for matcha cultivation, costs upwards of $20 an ounce. These are certified organic products, and some are tested for radiation contamination as well.

Tips

• Make matcha as concentrated as you like. For a more concentrated (and more caffeinated) tea, use two teaspoons of matcha powder and less water. For a thinner, weaker tea, use half a teaspoon of the powder with more water.
• Use the right tools. For optimal consistency, prepare matcha tea with a bamboo whisk or brush. You can also purchase matcha scoops and spoons in a set with a whisk and create your own tea ceremony at home.
• Prepare and drink matcha mindfully. Drinking matcha has been a form of meditation for hundreds of years. Try slowing down and mindfully preparing and sipping your matcha.
• Cook with matcha. These days, matcha is not just for drinking. Check online for an increasing number of recipes, from sweet to savory, that call for matcha powder.
• Make a DIY face mask from matcha. The EGCG content reduces inflammation and evens skin tone, and the antioxidant content is anti-acne and anti-aging. Mix a teaspoon of matcha powder with a teaspoon of raw honey and smear the paste on your skin. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, take a selfie, then remove the paste with a wet, warm washcloth.

Matcha tea prepared in the traditional Japanese style is whisked with hot water until frothy using a bamboo brush.

FAQ

Q. How do I prepare matcha tea to drink?

A. Traditional matcha is mixed with hot water, though you can make your own matcha lattes at home by substituting milk or nut milk for the water. Heat water to between 160 degrees Fahrenheit and 175 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a cooler temperature than the water temperature for black tea. Place a teaspoon of matcha powder into a cup or a ceremonial bowl and then slowly add a couple of ounces of hot water. Whisk the matcha and water, ideally with a bamboo brush or tea whisk until the mixture is frothy and thick. Then add the rest of the water and enjoy your matcha tea.

Q. Are there any side effects from drinking matcha tea?

A. If you’re sensitive to caffeine, be aware that matcha can rival the amount in a cup of coffee. For this reason, we don’t recommend drinking within six hours before bedtime so as not to disturb your night’s sleep. Matcha tea also can contain lead, even in organically grown products. Especially green tea cultivated in China contains lead absorbed from the environment. When regular green tea is steeped, 90% of the harmful heavy metal stays in the leaf. Because the whole tea leaf is ingested with matcha, you may be consuming up to 30 times the amount of lead than in regular green tea. For this reason, we don’t recommend consuming it while pregnant, drinking more than a cup a day, or serving any to children.