[toc]Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve definitely noticed this new craze. Or at least, new in America.
The history of matcha in Japan is nearly a millennium old. The seeds used to make it were first brought to the country – to the city of Kyoto – in 1191 A.D. by a Japanese Buddhist monk, Myōan Eisai (1). He had traveled to China at least twice, where he got these seeds.
Now what the Zen monks made was surely a far cry from today’s uses for matcha powder. They weren’t serving it over ice or in a smoothie. It was nothing like the Starbucks matcha green tea latte, which is just a sugar bomb – 32 grams for a Grande. Not healthy!
Equally guilty are the folks who lie to themselves, believing their pancakes or no bake matcha cheesecake recipe qualifies for superfood status. The more appropriate moniker for those would be diabetic disaster, or how to eat your way from fab to flab.
Ditto for Nestle’s flavored Kit Kats on Amazon, which are imported from Japan. Yes they’re delicious, but they’re a candy… not a health food. Only eat ‘em once in a blue moon.
Let’s get back to the roots of the traditional tea, what benefits it might offer you (facts vs. hype), and how you can avoid its dirty secret.
Depending on the source, it might be laced with dangerous levels of lead and other heavy metals. This plant is notorious for sucking up too much of the bad stuff in soil. You will be shocked to hear just how many of the 1,225 green tea samples tested exceeded legal limits for lead content (see below).
Is tea safe from Japan after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown? Our current analysis of radiation in the region provides an answer you may not be expecting.
For these reasons, you shouldn’t shop for it like a commodity based solely on price, because the health benefits (or side effects) really can differ based on where the plant is grown. Our reviews of tea brands at the bottom will help steer you in the right direction.
To begin, you have to understand exactly what this thing is…
What is matcha?
The name comes from the combination of two Japanese words matsu (to wipe or rub) and cha (tea). That describes how matcha is made, as the leaves were traditionally rubbed with stones and turned into a fine powder. Both matcha and regular green tea come from the same Camellia sinensis species, but they are grown and processed in different ways.
The differences between green tea and matcha is that with the latter, the leaves are fully de-stemmed and prior to harvest, they are grown in the shade for up to 20 days. That causes the plant to make more chlorophyll – which gives the powder its vivid green color. As a result, matcha tea has more antioxidants, caffeine, and L-theanine versus regular green tea.
Theanine is an amino acid believed to promote relaxation. More on that in a minute.
Since its production requires more labor, historically this has not been a cheap beverage. Aside from royalty and aristocrats who could afford to drink it daily, the best matcha tea was called ceremonial grade; it was the first harvest and saved for special occasions. Zen monks aside, the frequency of drinking it may be comparable to how Westerners drink champagne at weddings, New Years, and other celebrations.
Some manufacturers are misleading and call their product “ceremonial grade” when actually, it should be called ingredient or food grade. After you brew a cup of tea, even a novice can decipher between them. Pure organic ceremonial grade tastes smoother, because it’s made from the top leaves which are the softest. Since they have the most chlorophyll, the powder is a vibrant green.
Lower grade teas will be grittier due to the more mature leaves being used, as well as stem fragments which weren’t fully removed. A color that’s more yellow-green, and they often have an astringent-like bitter taste which can cause an upset stomach. Those are the worst matcha teas to drink.
Make sure you know what the real version is before judging its flavor.
How to make matcha is different than other teas. No bags or infusers are used. Since it’s ground to a fine powder, you drink all of the leaf. The traditional method of making it involves whisking the powder with a brush, after the hot water has been poured on top. You drink it out of a bowl.
Why does matcha have so many calories? It actually doesn’t. An estimated 90% of the calories in the latte and similar versions come from added sugar. Unsweetened matcha is good for you and low calorie.
Matcha nutrition facts |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Serving Size: 2g | |||
| Calories | 5 | ||
| Calories From Fat | 0 | ||
| % Daily Value* | % Daily Value | ||
| Total Fat 0g | 0 | Vitamin A 200 IU | 4% |
| Trans Fat 0g | Vitamin C 1.2mg | 2% | |
| Sodium 0mg | 0 | Calcium 0mg | 0% |
| Total Carbs. 1g | <1% | Iron 0.36mg | 2% |
| Fiber 1g | 4% | Sodium 0mg | 0% |
| Protein 1g | |||
| *Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet Source: USDA Branded Food Products Database, Release January 2017. Entry for UPC: 019022054489, 100% pure powder (2) |
|||
How much caffeine in matcha?
One of the biggest myths about green tea is that its high in caffeine. According to the USDA, a standard 8 ounce serving only contains 29 mg of the stimulant (3). That’s actually less versus black tea, which clocks in at 47 mg (4). Coffee is around double that amount, with 95 mg per serving (5). An 8 oz. can of Red Bull has 77 mg along with other stimulants.
Among all the different teas, beverages, and foods in the USDA National Nutrient Database which contain matcha (there’s nearly 80) none include information as to how much caffeine they have (6).
When we turn to third party data, we get a wild range of numbers. Some websites report as little as 25 or as much as 80 mg per serving, so which is it?
A lot of those sites are wrong because they’re simply reciting a number from another site which has no verifiable source (an incestuous circle of citations). Worse yet, few seem to be paying attention to serving sizes when repeating a number.
So where can we find a reliable number?
Teavana is owned by Starbucks, so presumably they have accurate information.
Well, a full review of the Teavana Imperial Matcha page and all it has is a graphic saying 40+ mg.
That could be 41 or 81… not very helpful!
The UK Daily Mail lists 34 mg per 1 gram of matcha (7). That would mean 61 mg of caffeine, if using a standard serving of 1.8g powder.
The problem is they don’t list a source. The only links pointed to a supplement drink manufacturer (Vivid Matcha in a bottle, not brewed tea) and a supplier/retailer (Aiya). From what we could gather, neither had verifiable data on this!
The best answer we could find was from a scientific report which used micellar electrokinetic chromatography to measure (8). They reported 23.9 mg per gram of dry powder. That means…
There is 43 mg of caffeine in matcha, assuming a standard serving size which uses one heaping teaspoon of powder (1.8 grams worth).
The traditional Japanese recipe uses just 2 ounces of water for that. When you crunch the numbers, it means on an equal weight basis, matcha has 80% more caffeine than coffee (172 vs. 95 mg per 8 ounces).
But that comparison is not fair, because these days most people make it a lot more diluted – using 4 or even 8 ounces of water per teaspoon. Though if you were to stick to the original ratio, it does beat your morning cup of Joe on a per ounce basis.
Is it bad for you?
Caffeine addicts will say no way, as they need the stimulation.
Others will argue such a high concentration could cause jittery side effects during the day, along with poor sleep at night.
Does matcha make you poop? That’s yet another concern people are asking about, based on experiences they may have with drinking strong or black coffee.
Pooping 101
Dealing with the defecation topic first, matcha should not make you poop more. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the caffeine in coffee which has a laxative effect.
Think about it. If that were the case, wouldn’t Mountain Dew, Red Bull, and yerba mate do the same?
According to the American Chemical Society, about 30 to 40% of people will experience the need to poop after downing that Grande Pike Place. The cause has to do with compounds in the coffee that increase our body’s levels of two specific hormones; cholecystokinin and gastrin (9). Those can cause our body to dump contents into the large intestine, which in turn makes you need to take a dump, since that’s the last stop in your digestive tract.
Whether its regular green tea, black tea, or matcha, all get their leaves from the Camellia sinensis, a plant which is not considered to have a laxative effect like coffee does.
At least for healthy individuals with a relatively normal bowel system. That answer may differ for those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s, and other diseases.
It tastes so good (or makes me feel sick)
Why does green tea taste so bad, according to some palates?
Most often the problem is bitterness, which can happen with a low quality product. Another factor can be the temperature used to make it, as higher temperatures create more bitterness.
For some taste buds, the culprit might be the umami flavor, which is described as brothy or savory.
That’s one of the 5 basic tastes, along with sweetness, sourness, bitterness, and saltiness.
Initially the scientific community disputed the existence of umami, a term first assigned by a Japanese scientist in 1908. But during the past few decades, many are now on board that it’s for real (10).
Regardless of whether or not umami is a distinct 5th taste, what scientists can agree on is that it is the L-theanine content in green tea which produces those traits (11).
By weight, up to 3.1% of dried tea leaves are theanine.
If you like the umami taste, this beverage is delicious. If not, it may taste like fish or bitter to you the first time you try it (it’s an acquired taste). Those traits might make you feel sick and nauseous.
Health benefits of matcha
Theanine is a non-dietary amino acid is almost exclusively found in the Camellia sinensis plant. It has been confirmed to cross the blood brain barrier. Research suggests it might offer neurological health benefits which could help offset the nervousness and restlessness which often go hand in hand with caffeine consumption.
In other words, rather than causing anxiety, matcha may actually reduce it.
1. May reduce anxiety
In a double blind study involving 16 people, a 200 mg dosage of theanine beat placebo during resting conditions (12).
The same subjects were also given 1 mg of alprazolam (Xanax) and the theanine also beat it too!
“With regard to the tranquil–troubled subscale of the VAMS, L-theanine significantly reduced subjective anxiety in comparison with alprazolam and placebo.”
2. Relaxation without being tired
On one hand we want to be energized, yet on the other we want to be relaxed. Is it possible to have both at the same time?
One of the most popular uses for matcha green tea powder is relaxation. That’s not just some recent fad, either. It’s a benefit which has been hailed throughout its history dating back to the Zen monks. However given that there’s little clinical research on it, for now it remains unproven.
That said, in the brains of rats, theanine has been found to increase serotonin and increase norepinephrine, both of which are believed to correlate with relaxation. Scientists in Seoul measured the brainwaves of 20 men (18 to 30 years old) after taking placebo or theanine (13).
“…there were significant differences of occipital alpha power values between placebo and test groups with high anxiety.”
The conclusion was that it promoted the release of alpha waves, which causes relaxation.
3. May improve sleep quality
A study involving 98 boys (8 to 12 years old) with ADHD were given L-theanine supplements over a period of 6 weeks (14).
The branded product used, Suntheanine, involved a dosage of four 100 mg chewable tablets – two taken at breakfast and two taken after school (400 mg per day total).
Their sleep quality was measured using a wrist device (to record movement at night) and a Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ).
The first sentence of the study’s conclusion claimed:
“This study demonstrates that 400 mg daily of L-theanine is safe and effective in improving some aspects of sleep quality in boys diagnosed with ADHD.”
It’s worth pointing out those were pure theanine supplements. Drinking matcha before bed would be a terrible idea, since it also contains caffeine.
Verdict?
In 2017, Wageningen University (Netherlands) published a review of 49 human studies which had been conducted to date about how green tea may affect mood and cognition. This is what they concluded (15):
“These studies provided reliable evidence showing that L-theanine and caffeine have clear beneficial effects on sustained attention, memory, and suppression of distraction. Moreover, L-theanine was found to lead to relaxation by reducing caffeine induced arousal.”
That being said, these purported relaxation, anti-anxiety, and sleep-enhancing benefits are still unproven, as no government has recognized them. Clinical research needs to be done to know for sure.
However the findings at least suggest the possibility that matcha might be better for you, as coffee and yerba mate do not contain L-theanine.
4. Good for weight loss
Your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of calories you burn per day just by existing. Not those burned from exercise or other activities, but rather the basic fuel your body needs to survive.
As you get older, your BMR falls off a cliff…
Data Source: Montana State University, College of Education, Health & Human Development, report dated 1998
That’s why you were slim as a teen and as an adult, you are statistically more likely to be fat than not.
The good news is that there is a proven way to boost your BMR and that is through high intensity physical activity. Anaerobic exercise has been found to cause “significantly elevated” metabolism as long as 38 hours after working out (16).
When it comes to foods, green tea is perhaps the only one which has compelling research to suggest it might boost metabolism.
It’s still not proven beyond all doubt, but the findings are fascinating nonetheless. In one study, 10 healthy men were given the following on 3 different occasions (17):
- Green tea extract, which naturally contained 50 mg of caffeine and 90 mg of the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).
- 50 mg caffeine supplement.
- Placebo
The results with plain caffeine and placebo were identical, but when they took the green tea, scientists observed a 4% increase in their metabolism over a 24 hour time frame.
Think about it… if you’re currently burning 2,500 calories per day, that 4% would equal another 100.
To reiterate, there aren’t even enough studies to fully prove this is happening with green tea and none have been conducted using this form. Hopefully, we will see a matcha weight loss study in the near future, as it’s long overdue!
5. Rich in antioxidants
How much antioxidants there are in matcha tea can be misleading.
The best way for measuring antioxidants is using the ORAC method. Some manufacturers report eye-popping ORAC numbers for this beverage.
The six-figure value they’re referencing is for the powder, not the brewed tea.
ORAC is based off of how much antioxidants there are in 100 grams of a food or drink. If you measure 100 grams of the dry powder, it is enough to make 55 standard servings of matcha tea!
That is why some list an ORAC of 150,000 or more. It’s for the straight up powder, before diluting it heavily with water.
After brewing, the amount of antioxidants in matcha may not be significantly higher than your standard green tea, which has an ORAC of 1,253 for 100 grams of brewed.
It often is higher than that, but not 10x or 100x.
The highest quality ceremonial grade matcha will come in at around a 3,000 ORAC for a 100 gram brewed serving.
That’s based on an ORAC of 168,500/100g for the Amanprana Kotobuki organic matcha powder. They are a very high quality brand which is ground in the traditional method of small granite mills.
Assuming 1.8 grams is used per 2 fluid ounces, that leaves us with a 3,163 ORAC for a 100 grams brewed (which equals 3.38 fluid ounces).
However most people don’t make it that concentrated. They’re doing at least 4 ounces per heaping teaspoon, if not 8 ounces. The means you have to cut the 3,163 ORAC at least in half, if using the diluted American recipes.
How to store your tea
Yes, matcha can go bad and quite quickly. If the powder is left in an unopened container, it will oxidize. The result…
- It will taste bad, creating a bitter and less potent flavor.
- The antioxidant content will be reduced.
The best way to store matcha is in an airtight container, preferably one which is opaque to minimize light exposure. Both air and light will degrade the phytonutrients.
Refrigeration is not required, but a lower temperature will prolong how long it’s good for. While the shelf life expires a year out or further, after opening and being exposed to air, it will normally go bad within 2 to 4 weeks at room temperature.
Side effects of matcha
Yes, green tea extract can cause acute liver failure (18).
Now that may seem contradictory, because the catechins – which include EGCG – are potent antioxidants which have demonstrated anti-cancer activity in numerous experiments (19).
When it comes to liver cancer, research has actually found that consumption correlates with reduced liver cancer risk (20). So how can it be toxic to this vital organ at the same time?
Our liver is responsible for breaking down medicines as well as many dietary supplements. As with medicine, the right amount can be beneficial, but too much can be deadly.
The same concept applies to these catechins. Many diet pill make use of them in hopes they burn fat. Such concentrated forms can be quite dangerous to our livers. Especially over the long term.
It has been reported that some diet pills contain up to 50x the amount of these polyphenols you would find in a natural cup of brewed tea.
Chung Yang of Rutgers, who was the lead author of that research, says up to 10 “small cups” of green tea per day is fine (21).
If you have liver problems, you should consult your doctor before taking up a daily habit of drinking tea. Even if you are perfectly healthy, taking matcha pills for weight loss doesn’t seem like a safe idea given the toxicity risk.
Stomach aches and nausea
Rather than liver problems, an upset stomach from matcha is a much more likely side effect if you’re only drinking the natural beverage.
The catechins and tannic acids can cause that. The umami flavor may also play a role. While a stomach ache or nausea is never fun, generally it’s harmless and short-lived.
If you experience either of these side effects when you begin drinking matcha, try the following:
- On your next batch, use less powder.
- Try adding a splash of almond milk to the cup.
- Use monk fruit to make it taste better without adding calories.
- Drinking it cold may help, such as in the form of an iced matcha latte.
- Take with food, not on an empty stomach.
For many people who experience these symptoms, they go away after a couple weeks of drinking matcha daily. Just like how your first reaction to black coffee as a kid was probably pure repulsion, teas can be an acquired appreciation – not just for taste, but also for your body as it adapts.
Reactions to caffeine
The following side effects of matcha are not unique to the beverage, since they are related to its high caffeine content:
Overdosing on this stimulant is feasible, but unlikely for healthy individuals who are consuming it diluted in a beverage.
High blood pressure can be worsened by caffeine, particularly systolic blood pressure (the upper number) (22).
Osteoporosis sufferers are advised to limit their caffeine to less than 300 mg per day (23). Being that caffeine is a diuretic, the increased urination may cause too much calcium to leave the body.
Glaucoma sufferers should avoid caffeine, since it can cause a temporary increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) for at least 90 minutes following consumption (24).
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) advises limiting daily caffeine intake to 200 mg or less per day. Some claim up to 300 mg per day is safe (25).
Since caffeine crosses the placenta and into the amniotic fluid, the developing baby will be exposed. So the less that pregnant women consume, the better.
IBS symptoms may be affected by caffeine, though it’s difficult to tell since most low FODMAP dietary studies involve cutting out a lot of other things too, not just caffeine (26) (27).
Lower blood sugar has been observed in some green tea research and it is believed to be caused by the catechins and polysaccharides (28) (29).
While that normally would be considered a benefit, for diabetics that can be dangerous if when combined with their medication, it causes blood sugar levels to drop too low.
Is there decaf matcha tea?
While it’s technically possible, you will not find it for sale at the supermarket, on Amazon, or elsewhere. It exists in theory, but there’s no such thing for sale commercially. To the best of our knowledge, no one makes a decaf version.
Why? Because a primary appeal of this tea is its higher caffeine. To remove it is counter to what most people drink it for. Fortunately, you do have a good alternative; decaf sencha powder.
The difference between sencha and matcha is that the former is grown in full sun, while the latter is grown in the shade. This naturally results in sencha having less caffeine. Since they’re both powder, their drink preparation and culinary uses are identical.
The most common ways of how tea is decaffeinated are:
- chemical solvents like methylene chloride, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate.
- pressurizing carbon dioxide (CO2) until it liquefies and that is then used as a solvent.
CO2 decaffeination is the best among those, as there is no foreign solvent residue left behind. The antioxidants are better preserved, as well as the flavor molecules.
The hard-to-find water decaf process is arguably even better. It offers excellent preservation of the EGCG antioxidant. A good brand which offers this is Sei Mei Tea Edible Green.
Is matcha safe?
The biggest problem with this tea can affect everyone, including those who are healthy. Especially toddlers, kids, and pregnant women. This is because of lead contamination in tea.
The reason matcha is more dangerous than regular green tea is because you are eating the leaves. Most of the lead content actually stays in the leaf when you steep a bag, so the amount of lead you are ingesting from filtered tea is naturally minimized. You’re more likely to overdose with this powder.
Japanese vs. Chinese matcha
Until that monk brought the seeds over to Japan in the 11th century A.D., China was its origin and even today, continues to be the biggest producer.
How much? According to a United Nation agricultural report, 83% of exported green tea is grown in China and less than 1% comes from Japan (30).
Even though Japan is responsible for 9.5% of world production, they export very little – only 0.6% of global consumption comes from Japanese grown leaves.
Vietnam exports more than they consume – they’re 9.9% of global exports. Indonesia is 3.5%. Virtually no green tea is grown for commercial purposes in the USA or Australia. While India is large producer of tea, the consume 70% of it themselves and what they do export is in other forms.
How much of those green tea exports are in the matcha form is unknown, or at least there isn’t sound verifiable reporting this premium version.
Far less than 1% of global green tea production is in the form of matcha.
Even for Japan, which is the biggest producer, true stone ground quality pure matcha represents only 1.1% of the country’s production. That’s according to the Feb 2013 issue of Tea & Coffee Trade Journal (print).
Even though China didn’t used to grow much, given its surge in popularity during last several years, they’re capitalizing on this superfood by ramping up production. How much exactly is unknown, but it’s clear based on the number of teas which now say grown/made in China.
When you buy it, you’re almost certainly getting Japanese or Chinese grown.
There are a few niche suppliers outside of those countries, but they’re few and far between. You probably won’t find Korean matcha green tea powder for sale at a place like Whole Foods!
Lead free matcha tea?
How much lead there is in this tea can be quite high. One study done about a decade ago tested 1,225 different samples grown throughout China and here is the percent which exceeded 2 mcg per gram (31):
- 24% of green tea
- 32% of scented tea
- 53% of oolong tea
- 59% of black tea
“The present study shows the extent of Pb [lead] contamination in Chinese teas, with a considerable proportion (32%) of the samples exceeding the Chinese MPC [maximum permissible concentration].”
That’s right, forget FDA limit for a minute. Here we have nearly one-third of the tea exceeding the Chinese government’s own threshold for maximum lead content!
And that was in a report done by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences… research conducted in and by the Chinese!
The word matcha is found no where in the report, but they offer these other clues…
Both “premium” grade teas and those with younger leaves were found to contain less lead. The best matcha tea is made using the youngest leaves, from the top of the plant. It’s called ceremonial grade. The above charts suggest that for a crop grown in contaminated soil, the high quality matcha grade leaves will contain less lead than other forms of green tea… even when they’re grown in the same soil.
That’s good news for this superfood. But would it be safer to buy from Japan? Another, albeit older study, measured 139 Japanese green tea samples for lead and cadmium found that none exceeded 2 mcg per gram (32). The results ranged from 0.11 to 1.93.
So is matcha bad for you if it comes from China? Not automatically, but the science seems to infer it’s more likely to be. A cup or two may be harmless, but drinking contaminated tea daily would be too much.
As you see in the chart above, the Chinese study found a direct correlation between levels of lead and how far the farms were from highways.
Why? Probably because they didn’t stop using leaded gasoline until the year 2,000.
Even though they now use unleaded (like the United States, Japan, and pretty much everywhere else) the problem is that this mineral may still be in the soil.
And of course, we haven’t even talked about all the industrial pollution taking place in that country.
In short, it’s not that Chinese tea is always dangerous, but even a USDA certified organic seal doesn’t mean it was grown in a region safe from pollution. This is why we would recommend sticking with Japanese sources.
Radiation dangers?
Even though heavy metals like cadmium and lead may be less of an issue for the country, it’s important to point out the potential for radioactive contaminants.
The Chinese haven’t had a nuclear power plant disaster, but Fukushima has. If you think the radiation is getting better as time passes, think again.
The levels of radiation in 2017 are higher than they were during the 2011 meltdown.
Experts quoted in the media have described the new levels as being “unimaginable” because right now, they’re up to 530 sieverts per hour (33). That’s 700% versus the prior record high of 73 sieverts.
To put that radiation dosage into perspective, being directly exposed to just 4 sieverts is high enough to kill 50% of people. Cancer risk for the other 50% skyrockets.
While those are atmospheric readings taken inside the containment vessel of reactor number 2, it’s been well documented these “containment” measures aren’t really working.
As that radiation leaks out, where does it end up?
Here’s a map showing 4,500 current measurements taken throughout the country (34).
Those reddish-pink colored dots are where Fukushima is.
The yellow dots you see throughout the country aren’t necessarily related to the nuclear disaster, as the sad truth is our whole world has radioactive pollution.
A map of the United States, Canada, the UK, and every other country would have similar patterns of elevated radiation patches.
The accident happened on the east coast of Japan, where the winds and water currents travel west. That means it is the Pacific Ocean which is getting the vast majority.
As of 2015, the amount of radiation in food from Fukushima is back to pre-disaster levels.
That’s for produce and meat that is grown and raised in the Fukushima region (35) (36).
If even the produce from the Fukushima region is back to normal readings, then matcha green tea grown elsewhere in Japan should be perfectly safe. Especially in the eastern corridor of the country, since the wind and waters are carrying the radiation west.
While the more recent 2017 readings are alarming, it shouldn’t affect your tea because of the direction that radiation travels.
That being said, your safest option is to avoid green tea which comes from Fukushima and the surrounding areas.
Where in Japan is green tea grown?
A low end brand like Starbucks, Nestle, Jamba Juice, or Trader Joe’s matcha green tea might not even clarify the country of origin, let alone the specific region in Japan (if that’s where it is coming from).
Even when those brands do specify where their teas and lattes come from, they may be sourcing it from multiple regions within the country.
Fortunately when it comes to radiation risk, this probably doesn’t matter. Here’s why…
All of the major tea producing regions are the opposite direction of the winds from Fukushima.
Shizuoka (静岡) is by far the largest region, as nearly half of Japanese green tea is grown there. The westernmost farms in Shizuoka are still about 250 miles away (400 km) from Fukushima.
So is Japanese green tea safe from radiation? Yes. Whether it’s the regular kind or matcha, the risk of elevated levels is quite small.
What we would advise caution on though are the edible seaweeds – like nori – which are harvested from the Pacific Ocean, as those seem to pose a far greater radiation risk than any land-based plants grown hundreds of miles to the east.
What’s the best matcha to buy?
Let’s start this review with what to avoid! Starbucks does not sell unsweetened matcha, as the blend they use already has sugar mixed in. Worst yet, the sugar is listed first in the ingredients.
For this, they do use Tazo matcha green tea powder from Japan. But aside from in a latte, you can’t buy the powder from Starbucks. It’s not for retail sale and even if it was, why would you want that junk?
The origin for the green tea used in candies like Pocky matcha biscuit sticks and the Japanese Kit Kat bars is not disclosed either, but that should not be a concern for you.
Given the little powder they contain and how you eat them infrequently [hopefully], where their tea comes from is irrelevant. It’s the sugar and calories in those which you need to worry about!
When it comes to powders you drink, you do want to be selective since drink recipes involve concentrated amounts of powder and you may be consuming them weekly or even daily.
One of the behemoths in this industry, Celestial Seasonings, sells a liquid latte concentrate in a carton and matcha in bags. While both use Japanese powder, they are blended with regular green and the country of origin for that part is ambiguous (we couldn’t locate it). Whatever the case, Celestial Tea does not offer the pure powder you want.
Other big brands like Yogi, Traditional Medicinals, and Organic India Tulsi don’t offer it, either. Pukka Herbs only offers a blend similar to Celestial.
There are numerous quality brands on the market which source from Japan:
Aiya Matcha – Conventional from Nishio, organic from Kagoshima and Toyota.
David’s Tea – Ceremonial and Grand Cru are from Nishio. Avoid regular, mint, and vanilla as origin is not disclosed on their website’s produt pages for those.
DoMatcha – Kagoshima and Uji (Kyoto). This brand’s ceremonial grade has been tested and passed for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and pesticides by ConsumerLab, which is an independent company that tests foods and supplements (we’re a member).
Dr. Mercola Royal Matcha – Nishio
Eden Matcha – This Michigan company sources their ceremonial from the aforementioned Aiya Tea Company.
Kenko – Australian company who sells tea from Nishio.
Kirkland Signature – A hybrid of Japanese sencha with matcha in a teabag.
Lupicia – Shizuoka
Miracle Matcha – UK brand offering white tea matcha sourced from Kenya.
Mighty Leaf Tea – Their website says they source “primarily” from China, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Taiwan, and Africa. However, their regular organic, ceremonial, and flavored versions (such as the matcha frappe and latte mixes) all listed Japan when we reviewed them.
Mighty Matcha – UK brand using Japanese tea, region not disclosed. Though we question their expertise given this statement on their website; “137x more antioxidants than regular green tea!” (they’re comparing dry powder vs. brewed regular).
Mind Over Matcha – Monsoon and booster juice both use Nishio.
Numi Tea – Japan, region not disclosed.
The Republic of Tea – Regular says Japan, as do their U Matcha Natural flavors. Similar to what Kirkland Signature offers, their organic 100% double green matcha tea bags are a hybrid and say “China, Japan” but it was tested by ConsumerLab.
Rishi – They offer several grades which come from various Japanese regions.
Teapigs – Organic, comes from the distributor Arcane in Tokyo.
Teavana – Japan, region not disclosed. The Imperial is organic.
Uji Matcha – Many people think this is a brand, but it is a type which is made using gyokuro grown in the Uji region (Kyoto).
Unicity – Japan, region not disclosed.
Vivid Matcha – Seller of bottled drinks and powder. Organic and from Japan, region not disclosed.
Vitalife – Uji (Kyoto)
Xndo matcha coffee – Japan, region not disclosed.
Yame Tea – Fukuoka (Yame)
Zen Matcha – Website says “dedicated to authentic Japanese matcha tea.”
Where to buy?
We checked at a Whole Foods location in Los Angeles and they only carried a small number of brands.
That is better than what we saw at Ralph’s (name for Kroger in California) which had just a couple. Same for Walmart and Target.
Trader Joe’s only sells a latte mix which is Japanese sourced, but the ingredient list is a mile long – sugars, wheat, and dairy derivatives, so it’s not vegan or gluten free.
Buying online will be your best bet for selection. Stick with trustworthy brands because this is an industry where suppliers are known for fibbing on grades.
Our favorite?
That’s kind of like asking a mother to choose her favorite child! While we are satisfied with many of the above, if we had to choose only one brand the best would be Kenko ceremonial grade.
Kenko is a USDA certified organic powder that comes from a small farming co-op in Nishio. It offers the right balance of high quality flavor for a great value. Even unsweetened, it tastes delicious.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.