Matcha has taken the wellness world by storm in recent years. It’s almost impossible to scroll through Instagram without seeing a snap of matcha lattes that induce heart-eyed emojis. Even coffee enthusiasts are making the switch and ditching the unwanted side effects of coffee (we’re looking at you, 3pm energy crash).
Matcha tea, however, has been around for hundreds of years, and it’s easy to see why it’ll forever hold its status as a staple drink. It’s rife with antioxidants and gives you the energy boost you need without the jitters. That brings up one very common question: Does matcha have caffeine? Keep reading to learn the answer, plus tips on how to enjoy the vibrant powdered tea (spoiler alert: you can eat it too). But first, here’s a little refresher on matcha in case you’re not familiar with it.
What is matcha?
Matcha comes from the same plant as green tea called the Camellia sinensis plant. It originates from Chinese and Japanese cultures and is traditionally associated with meditation, hence its soothing vibe. The difference between matcha and green tea is that when you make green tea, you steep the tea leaves in hot water and then discard them after. This essentially throws away many of the tea's benefits because the water can only extract so much. On the other hand, with matcha, the tea leaves are ground up into a green powder and whisked into the hot water, so you actually consume the leaves themselves. Matcha leaves are also grown away from direct sunlight for about a month, which increases their chlorophyll content and amino acid content giving it its eye-catching green hue and rich taste.
Does matcha have caffeine?
Yes, matcha, like green tea, does have caffeine. Because you’re also consuming the tea leaves themselves, matcha has more caffeine than a regular cup of green tea. The specific amount of caffeine matcha contains will vary from cup to cup. An 8-ounce cup of matcha made with one teaspoon of matcha powder contains about 70 milligrams of caffeine. Depending on how strong you drink your matcha, it can have more or less.
How does matcha compare to coffee?
Now, let’s talk about how matcha caffeine content compares to coffee’s caffeine content. Generally speaking, matcha contains less caffeine than coffee. But again, the exact difference will vary. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, an 8-ounce cup of coffee has 95 to 200 milligrams of caffeine.
Although yes, matcha has caffeine. The reason people rave about matcha (besides the delicious taste and lovely color) is that it gives you sustained energy without the jitters and crashes that you get from coffee’s caffeine. Some people refer to it as a steady buzz of energy that makes you alert but still calm, aka a clean high. The reason is that matcha boasts a magical amino acid called l-theanine, which provides a calming effect and slows down the body’s caffeine absorption.
That said, it’s still not the best idea to go crazy overboard with matcha consumption. The USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day. So if you limit yourself to three to four cups of matcha per day max, you should be good to go.
When you drink matcha instead of coffee, you also get many other added benefits, with antioxidants being at the top of the list. Like green tea, matcha is rich in antioxidants, and because you consume the tea leaves, you get even more antioxidants. Antioxidants are known to protect against heart disease and cancer, regulate blood sugar, reduce blood pressure. Also, we’d be doing you a disserve if we didn’t gush over the skin-boosting matcha benefits. The antioxidants in matcha help fight free radicals that damage the skin, supporting anti-aging. * Consider matcha drinkable skincare.
Ready to try matcha?
Now that we’ve hyped up all the matcha benefits and you’re ready to give it a try, allow us to introduce you to Copina Co’s Matcha Beauty Plant-Based Collagen Boost Drink Powder. In addition to matcha, the herbalist-approved blend also stars bamboo extract and amla (for hair, skin, nail, and joint support), tremella mushroom extract (for skin elasticity), grapeseed extract (for collagen synthesis), and hyaluronic acid (for wrinkle-fighting and skin moisturization). *
As we get older, our body produces less collagen, so these collagen drink powders help the body naturally synthesize more collagen which promotes shiny hair, supple skin, and healthy joints. * In other words, you’re getting a whole lot of matcha benefits in every sip of your matcha latte.
Speaking of matcha lattes, you can grab one at your local coffee shop but making your own matcha latte at home is actually super easy. Just blend one serving of the matcha collagen boost drink powder with your favorite liquid. We love mixing it with hot water, nut milk, or a smoothie. Pro tip: use a blender or hand frother for the best results. If you want to get fancy, matcha is traditionally made with a bamboo whisk until it gets frothy, but a good old spoon will also do the trick if that’s all you have on hand. You can also drink it as cold brew matcha if that’s more your vibe.
To spice up the flavor profile, you can also use the vegan collagen boost drink powder to make an iced turmeric matcha latte, strawberry matcha latte, or pumpkin spice matcha latte. And one of our favorite ways to consume matcha is to eat it by incorporating it into different creative recipes such as matcha banana chocolate chip muffins, matcha beauty overnight oats, or a blue Majik beauty smoothie bowl. There are so many ways you can sneak matcha into your diet. Whatever way you take your matcha, one thing is for sure: you’re in for a treat and a non-jittery energy boost too. Watch out world.
