Matcha Green Tea FAQs
Have a question about our matcha green tea? Find the answer you have been looking for below:
- What is matcha?
- What's the difference between beginner's and ceremonial grade matcha?
- Does matcha contain caffeine?
- How much matcha should I have in a day?
- What time of the day should I drink matcha?
- What is the best temperature to serve matcha?
- How do I measure a 1g serving?
- Why am I left with lumps of matcha in the bottom of my cup?
- What are the health benefits of matcha green tea?
- What does matcha green tea taste like?
- Is it safe to drink matcha green tea when pregnant?
- Is Vitalife Matcha organic?
- Is Vitalife Matcha a member of the Fairtrade Association?
- Are there any other ways to serve matcha than with warm water?
What is matcha?
Matcha is essentially a powdered form of green tea and is served by mixing with either warm water or milk.
It is also grown and harvested in a slightly different way to standard green tea in that it is shade grown for the final few months to allow the leaves to fill with chlorophyll and exude a vibrant green colour.
What's the difference between beginner's and ceremonial grade matcha?
Ceremonial grade matcha uses the finest, smallest leaves from the very tip of the tea bush - giving it a more vibrant green colour and a slightly smoother flavour.
Beginner's grade matcha, on the other hand, uses slightly larger tea leaves found further down the tea bush - giving it a less vibrant green colour, and a less smooth flavour.
The difference between the two grades is very subtle and often goes unnoticed to those people who haven't yet developed a palate for matcha i.e. those trying matcha for the first time - hence, beginner's grade is perfect for matcha virgins.
Does matcha contain caffeine?
Yes, it does.
A recommended 1g serving contains 34mg of caffeine. This is compared to 70-180mg for a cup of coffee. Most experts consider 200-300mg of caffeine per day to be an acceptable level.
The 'type' of caffeine in matcha is different to that of caffeine in coffee, called Theophylline, which gives you a much more sustainable release of energy throughout the day.
How much matcha should I have in a day?
It really depends on personal preference.
We recommend you should have no more than 5 cups a day (to keep within the lower recommended caffeine limit of 200mg), but often it is sufficient to have just one cup in the morning and still feel the health benefits and improved mental alertness that matcha delivers, throughout the entire day.
What time of the day should I drink matcha?
We recommend that matcha is consumed in the morning and early afternoon.
Due to the caffeine content, it is not advisable to drink matcha just before bed (even though the caffeine content is still much lower than coffee and a lot of other types of teas).
What is the best temperature to serve matcha?
You can serve matcha with hot water.
However, to receive the greatest health benefits, the optimum temperature to serve matcha is 70 degrees. If you don't have a temperature-controlled kettle, simply switch off the kettle before it reaches boiling point.
How do I measure a 1g serving?
A 1g serving is the equivalent to around a quarter of a teaspoon.
However, for ultimate accuracy, it is best to use one of our bamboo scoops to measure out your matcha powder. You then just serve one level scoop for 1g of powder.
You can find our bamboo scoops on our shop page.
Why am I left with lumps of matcha in the bottom of my cup?
This happens when the matcha powder is not mixed properly.
Always sift the matcha powder into your mug and use a whisk to mix, do not stir. This will ensure a perfectly smooth and frothy cup of matcha.
You can find our whisks/milk frothers here.
What are the health benefits of matcha green tea?
There are a number of scientifically proven health benefits of drinking matcha green tea regularly, including improved mental focus and awareness, a faster metabolism, detoxification, anti-aging properties, lowered cholesterol, and an increase in energy to name but a few.
For more information on the health benefits of matcha green tea visit our health benefits page.
What does matcha green tea taste like?
There are various grades of matcha, which affect the flavour/aroma.
The lower the grade, the more bitter and astringent the matcha becomes. As Vitalife matcha is of a very high grade, ours tastes smooth, grassy, even almost sweet.
Our cooking grade matcha is specifically made for baking/cooking and is therefore best used for this purpose only. For drinking grade, see our tins of matcha. Both can be found on our buy matcha online page.
Is it safe to drink matcha green tea when pregnant?
Yes, it is. But experts recommend that pregnant women restrict their caffeine intake to a maximum of 200mg per day, and for this reason pregnant women should not drink more than 5 cups of matcha a day.
We recommend just one in the morning.
Is Vitalife Matcha organic?
Although our standard matcha range is not certified organic, all our matcha is grown in a completely pesticide-free environment.
But for those that insist on Organic certified matcha, we now offer a certified Organic 30g tin, which can be found here.
Is Vitalife Matcha a member of the Fairtrade Association?
Given that all (genuine) matcha comes from Japan, Fairtrade membership is not necessary - as Japan is not a developing country.
All workers on our farms are therefore well-treat and fairly-paid.
Are there any other ways to serve matcha than with warm water?
Yes, there are.
For some inspirational ideas on what else you can do with your matcha, visit our matcha recipes page.