The unique health benefits of matcha

Matcha is unique among teas because as you drink it, you ingest the entire leaf. And through shade-growing, matcha contains higher levels of L-theanine, a relaxing agent.

Shop matcha leaf

Consuming the whole tea leaf

Drinking matcha means consuming the entire leaf and all its available nutrients, rather than straining tea leaves full of insoluble nutrients.

  • A pie graph showing percentages of soluble vs insoluble nutrients in steeped tea.

    Green tea
    30% consumed (only soluble)

  • A pie graph showing that 100% of matcha’s nutrients are soluble.

    Matcha
    100% consumed (both soluble and insoluble)

Detoxifying effect

Matcha is rich in fiber because it comprises every molecule of the tea leaf. This ingestion of both soluble and insoluble fiber helps with detoxification and gut health.

  • 1 shot matcha (level 3) = ¼-⅓ head of lettuce

High in antioxidants

Matcha’s antioxidant count is high, even among green teas and antioxidant-rich foods, largely because the entire leaf is consumed. Antioxidants combat free radicals and inflammation.

  • A chart demonstrating that freshly-ground matcha has a much higher antioxidant content than well-known superfoods.

    Antioxidant ORAC* Value (TE/g)

Source: Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Antioxidant Capacities of Common Foods in the United States.

*Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity

Double effects

Matcha leaves are higher in L-theanine. It is a protein that helps regulate cortisol (a stress hormone) and moderates your body’s caffeine uptake. So when you drink matcha, the L-theanine calms you down while caffeine lifts you up—producing higher brain function than caffeine alone.

  • An upward-pointing triangle icon with an air balloon and the word "uplifting," denoting matcha's energizing effect.

    Caffeine

  • A downward pointing triangle with a Buddha icon and the word "calming," denoting the relaxing effect of matcha.

    L-theanine

Energy flow

Matcha sustains a calmer, longer energy boost compared to the spike and crash that comes from the caffeine in coffee. This is because matcha includes L-theanine, which provides a calming effect. Together, the combination of L-theanine and caffeine in matcha provides sustained focus and energy.

  • A chart showing a natural energy arc after one has after matcha versus the spikes and crashes experienced after coffee.

    Matcha vs. coffee

Improved focus and concentration

A study showed that when L-theanine and caffeine are combined, it improved a person’s behavioral performance (hit rate) significantly, when compared to L-theanine or caffeine alone.

  • A chart showing the hit rate of matcha's L-theanine-caffeine duo versus that of L-theanine and caffeine alone.

    Combined effects of L-theanine and caffeine

    P:     Placebo T: L-theanine 100mg C: Caffeine 50mg T+C: Combination

Source: L-theanine and Caffeine in Combination Affect Human Cognition as Evidenced by Oscillatory alpha-Band Activity and Attention Task Performance (by Simon P. Kelly, Manuel Gomez-Ramirez, Jennifer L. Montesi, and John J. Foxe)