Frequently Asked Questions about Matcha

Properties

Questions about it's properties and benefits

What benefits does it have over coffee?

One of the significant differences between matcha and coffee is the high antioxidant content in each matcha serving (1g). Specifically, each matcha dose has 1384 ORACs (a method to measure oxygen radical absorbance capacity), 53 times more than spinach.

A matcha serving (1g) contains about 35 mg of caffeine, the same as an espresso coffee. With coffee, you'll likely experience the caffeine's energy surge and a dip after about 2 hours. Matcha contains not just caffeine but also L-Theanine, an amino acid ensuring a gradual caffeine release, creating a calm-alert state without energy spikes and drops.

How many calories are in a 1g serving?

Matcha tea is a healthier alternative to sugary, calorific drinks: a matcha tea serving has only 3 calories (Kcal), a minimal calorie contribution to our daily diet. The WHO establishes a caloric intake for a healthy adult of 2,000 to 2,500 Kcal/day for men and 1,500 to 2,000 Kcal/day for women. Recent studies show that matcha tea intake can quadruple calorie loss. Green tea has negative calories, meaning our body's absorption process and the energy needed to process it is more than the calories we intake by consuming it.

Calories content:

  • Matcha tea (250 ml): 3 Kcal
  • Sugary drink (330 ml): 139 Kcal
  • Tea drink (330 ml): 105 Kcal
  • Energy drink (250 ml): 110 Kcal
How much sugar does a 1g serving have?

0 g of sugar. Green matcha tea contains no sugar and is 100% natural, making it a recommended substitution for sugary drinks. If you want to sweeten your matcha tea, a few grains of brown sugar or any other sweetener (agave syrup, xylitol, stevia, coconut sugar) will suffice. Green matcha tea helps control blood sugar levels and prevents type 2 diabetes development.

Sugar content:

  • Green tea matcha: 0 g
  • Tea drink (330 ml): 25 g
  • Energy drink (250 ml): 27 g
  • Sugary drink (330 ml): 35 g
How much caffeine does a 1g serving have?

An adult's caffeine consumption shouldn't exceed 400 mg daily. A 1g matcha tea cup contains 35 mg of caffeine, so we recommend not drinking more than 5 matcha cups a day.

Caffeine content:

  • Matcha tea: 35 mg/cup
  • Green tea: 25-40 mg/cup
  • Coffee: 120-150+ mg/cup
  • Espresso: 70-90 mg/cup
  • Energy drink: 80 mg/can
Does matcha contain gluten?

Green matcha tea is gluten-free and suitable for coeliacs. You can drink matcha or use it as an ingredient in your recipes.

I'm lactose intolerant. Can I have it?

Certainly, traditional matcha is consumed in Japan's tea ceremony, mixed with hot water at 80ºC. Bringing it to the west, we've adapted it to our customs. It's common to drink it with oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.

Is it suitable for vegans and vegetarians?

Yes, both green matcha tea and matcha latte are vegan and vegetarian-friendly. There are countless combinations when drinking matcha or using it as an ingredient. Our favourite recipes include: matcha ice cream, matcha yoghurt, matcha smoothies, matcha cookies, or matcha truffles.

Does it help in weight loss?

Yes, it's proven that the catechin EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) accelerates metabolism and stops fat cell growth, especially when consumed before exercising. It's recommended to replace coffee with matcha tea, as the latter doesn't alter blood sugar and insulin levels, regulating appetite and avoiding compulsive eating.

Where does Matcha & CO's matcha come from?

Matcha & CO's tea is ceremonial grade, 100% EU-certified organic, and originates from Kyoto prefecture in Japan.

Getting Started

Questions about how to start taking it

Which matcha do you recommend for beginners?

If you're new to the world of matcha, we suggest starting with a milder tasting matcha like the 100% ORGANIC MATCHA 30 G. Initially, you'll encounter numerous new flavours. We recommend you try different quantity combinations (0.5 g, 1 g) and taste it purely (with water) or mixed with plant or animal milk. As you get accustomed to its taste, you'll begin to understand its flavour complexity. That's when we suggest trying a higher quality matcha to keep exploring its potential.

Is it normal not to like it at first?

Matcha tea is distinctively green with a slight sweetness. However, when first trying matcha, our palate might not recognise this new taste. To develop a taste for it, repetition is key. Sometimes, it takes up to 12 tries to develop a new taste. The same happens the first time we try other drinks like beer, coffee, or wine. Matcha has an umami taste, unique and new to our palate, which we need to learn to appreciate.

What's the difference between organic and non-organic matcha?

Organic food is a product of sustainable, environmentally-friendly agriculture. A product can be labelled as organic if at least 95% of its ingredients are organic. In our case, 100% of our ingredient (matcha tea) is organic. The EU organic product logo guarantees all labelled products meet strict pesticide laws and organic food production processes.

What's the difference between green tea and matcha?

Green tea is a type of Camellia sinensis tea that doesn't undergo oxidation during processing. Its fresh leaves are dried, pressed, rolled, and crushed. In contrast, matcha tea is a type of green tea, albeit processed differently. Twenty days before its harvest, the green tea plantation is covered to increase chlorophyll, giving matcha its vibrant green colour. The best leaves are selected, manually collected, and undergo a long natural drying process. They're steamed to discard stems and nerves, and then, ground using stone, only the tender part of the leaf is used. While green tea is infused in hot water, matcha powders are added to hot water, ensuring 100% consumption of the green tea leaf. Hence, matcha contains 137 times more antioxidants than conventional green tea.

When's the best time to have it?

Most people opt to replace their morning coffee with a matcha cup. Due to its L-Theanine content, caffeine release is gradual, providing constant energy lasting between 4 and 6 hours. If weight loss is your goal, consuming matcha before exercising can activate metabolism and help in weight loss.

Can it affect sleep?

Regular matcha consumers tend to sleep better due to L-Theanine's calming effects. Generally, matcha drinkers tend to improve sleep quality as it reduces stress and anxiety levels, contributing to a positive and clear wake-up. For those sensitive to caffeine, we recommend not having matcha after 4 pm, similarly to limiting coffee, tea, and other caffeine-containing drinks.

Can it be consumed during pregnancy?

According to expert physicians, a pregnant woman shouldn't consume more than 200 mg-300 mg of caffeine daily. We advise limiting matcha consumption to 2 cups daily to stay within the daily caffeine levels.

Can children drink matcha?

Yes, matcha can be an alternative zero-sugar drink for children. Having matcha can help prevent colds, support a healthy heart as it aids in building artery walls, improve oral health, enhance concentration, and combat child obesity. However, we recommend limiting its consumption to 1 cup daily due to the caffeine levels in matcha (thanks to L-Theanine, caffeine releases gradually over 4h-6h, not all at once like when having a coffee cup).

Preparation

Questions about how to prepare it properly

How is it prepared?

Check out our HOW TO PREPARE MATCHA TEA page for illustrative images and videos. You can also use matcha as an ingredient in your recipes.

How much matcha should I add per serving?

A serving is typically 1 g of matcha, equivalent to a coffee teaspoon. Initially, we suggest starting with slightly lesser quantities and see how you feel. Gradually, you can find the optimum matcha amount for you.

How is it taken, hot or cold?

You can have matcha as you prefer, either cold or hot. The benefits of having matcha aren't affected by the temperature at which it's consumed. We suggest trying matcha with hot water or milk and then pouring it over ice for a cold drink. You can also use it as an ingredient to prepare delicious matcha recipes.

Try the best matcha

Enjoy a matcha tea from Japan

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