Matcha

What is matcha?

Matcha is a finely ground powder of the leaves of the tea plant Camellia sinensis, the same plant as green and black tea. For matcha the tea bushes are shaded for a while before harvest, after which the leaves are steamed, dried and ground into a very fine, bright green powder. The plant part that is used is therefore the leaf, but in powder form.

What is special about matcha is that you drink the whole leaf as a powder, whisked into hot water or milk, instead of straining off the leaf as with ordinary tea. As a result you take in more of the substances from the leaf, including the caffeine. Matcha has a pronounced, full green and sometimes slightly bitter taste. You will come across it as loose powder and in ready-made tea form.

It is good to realise that, because of this method of preparation, matcha naturally contains a relatively large amount of caffeine. As a result it is not a drink you use carelessly and at any moment of the day, certainly not just before going to sleep. Matcha can be a pleasant part of a mindful routine, but it is not a medicine and not a replacement for medical care. So always read the label and the warnings before you use it.

Traditional use

Matcha is traditionally used within the Japanese tea ceremony and as a refreshing morning moment within a daily routine. In Japanese culture matcha has a long history as a familiar, mindfully prepared part of the day, passed down from generation to generation.

These applications are traditional in nature and say nothing about a medicinal effect. It is important to keep that distinction sharp: a long tradition and a beautiful ceremony do not mean that a tea treats, prevents or cures a condition. People often choose matcha for its full taste, the bright green colour and the calm ritual of whisking, as part of a mindful lifestyle.

Because matcha naturally contains a relatively large amount of caffeine, it is drunk by many people at a moment when they enjoy an awake, alert feeling within their routine, for example in the morning. This is a description of how people fit matcha into their day and not a medical claim. For a calm evening, people usually choose a caffeine-free herb instead.

What people look to this herb for

• I am looking for a green powder for my morning routine
• I want a refreshing tea moment with a familiar ritual
• I am looking for a drink for the daytime with an awake feeling within my routine
• I love the full, green taste and the bright colour
• I want to use matcha in a latte or smoothie

These are reasons why people search, not promises or diagnoses. Matcha is not a treatment for complaints and not intended to address anything in the body. With persistent, severe or worsening complaints, consult a doctor instead of relying on a tea, certainly if you take medicines or are sensitive to caffeine.

How is matcha used?

Matcha mainly comes as a powder, with various applications:

• Powder: fine green tea powder, whisked with hot (not boiling) water into a frothy tea, traditionally with a bamboo whisk.
• Tea: matcha dissolved as a warm or cold drink, sometimes as a matcha latte with milk or a plant-based alternative.
• In dishes: a small amount of powder through smoothies, yoghurt or baked goods.

Because with matcha you drink the whole leaf, you take in relatively more caffeine per cup than with ordinary green tea. Bear that in mind: a second or third matcha in a day adds up, so spread use and avoid matcha late in the evening.

Always follow the usage advice on the label and do not exceed the recommended amount. We deliberately do not mention dosages: these are on the packaging of the specific product and may differ per product. Do not use matcha in large amounts close to a meal if you are watching your iron uptake, and do not use it long term in high amounts without expert advice.

Why lifestyle remains important

A drink such as matcha works best as part of a broader, healthy routine, not as a standalone solution. A cup of matcha can mark a calm, mindful moment, but the foundation remains a balanced lifestyle.

• Varied, fibre-rich food
• Drinking enough water
• Enough sleep and rest
• Regular exercise
• Attention to stress balance

A food supplement is no substitute for a varied diet, a healthy lifestyle or medical advice. Precisely because matcha contains a relatively large amount of caffeine, it helps to look at your own rhythm: enough water alongside the matcha, and not too much caffeine late in the day, so that your night's rest is not put under pressure.

When to be cautious

Matcha naturally contains a relatively large amount of caffeine and is not suitable for everyone. Because you drink the whole leaf, caution is extra in order and matcha is not intended for unlimited use. If in doubt, always first consult a doctor or pharmacist.

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: limit caffeine and do not use matcha without consulting a doctor or midwife.
• Sensitivity to caffeine: if you are sensitive to caffeine, be restrained; you may experience a restless or jittery feeling.
• Heart complaints or high blood pressure: caffeine is an emphatic point of attention here; first consult a doctor.
• Sleep problems: do not drink matcha late in the day, because the caffeine can disturb your night's rest.
• Medication use: caffeine can be a point of attention with certain medicines; consult a doctor or pharmacist.
• Iron uptake: matcha close to a meal can reduce the uptake of iron from food; use it between meals instead.
• Children: because of the caffeine, not suitable for children without advice.

If you experience complaints such as palpitations, restlessness or poor sleep, reduce use and consult a doctor if in doubt. A tea is no substitute for medical advice.

What matcha does not do

It is important to keep realistic expectations. Matcha is not a medicine, not a miracle cure and not a substitute for medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases. Around matcha, hefty promises about losing weight or detoxing sometimes circulate online; we deliberately do not adopt these, because they do not fit with honest and realistic information.

Matcha does not detoxify the body as a medical fact. The body has its own natural processes via the liver, kidneys and intestines, which do their work without a specific tea powder being needed for it. Herbs and tea can at most fit within a mindful routine, but do not replace these processes and do not solve complaints. So hold on to a healthy lifestyle and seek medical advice for persistent or recurring complaints.

Matcha in supplements

In supplement and drink form matcha appears as loose powder, in ready-made matcha drinks or as part of a broader blend, sometimes combined with other green powders. In these it mainly contributes its full, green character and the natural caffeine. If it is combined with other ingredients, each of those has its own points of attention; so look at the whole ingredient list. The exact composition and amount are always on the label of the product concerned.

So always read the full ingredient list and the warnings before you choose a product, certainly because matcha contains a relatively large amount of caffeine and is not suitable for everyone. If in doubt, when taking medication, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, first consult a doctor or pharmacist. Via our Herb Guide and the page about quality and safety you can calmly read on, so that you make a mindful choice that suits your personal situation.