What's in Matcha? A Plain-English Guide for New Zealand
Published: 2026-04-26
Matcha has become one of New Zealand's favourite café orders. From Auckland cafés to Wellington wellness stores, the bright green powder is everywhere. This guide explains what matcha actually is and what's in it, without the hype.
What makes matcha different from green tea?
With regular green tea, you steep the leaves and throw them away. With matcha, the leaves are ground into a fine powder and whisked into the drink, so you consume the whole leaf.
- Shade-grown: the tea plants are covered for a few weeks before harvest, which deepens the green colour and changes the flavour
- Stone-ground: the leaves are dried, de-stemmed and ground very fine
- Whole leaf: you drink the powder itself, not an infusion
What's in matcha?
Caffeine
Matcha naturally contains caffeine. How much depends on the grade and how much powder is used. A typical serve of 1–2 g of matcha powder contains roughly 30–70 mg. For comparison:
- Luma Matcha Soda: 42–67 mg per 330 ml can (matcha varies by batch)
- Brewed coffee: around 95 mg per cup
- Brewed green tea: around 25–35 mg per cup
L-theanine
L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in tea leaves. Shade-growing tends to keep more of it in the leaf, which is part of why matcha tastes savoury and smooth.
Catechins, including EGCG
Catechins are a group of plant compounds found in tea. The best known is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). Because you consume the whole leaf, matcha contains more catechins per serve than a cup of brewed green tea.
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is what makes matcha so green. Shade-growing increases it, which is why good matcha is vivid rather than yellowish.
What does the research say?
Tea, and especially green tea, is one of the most studied drinks in the world, and researchers are actively looking at its compounds. Some findings are promising, many are early or mixed, and most studies look at brewed green tea or concentrated extracts rather than a can of soda. We think it's more honest to tell you what's in matcha than to promise what it will do for you. If you have a specific health question, ask your doctor.
How to choose good matcha in New Zealand
- Colour: bright green usually means fresher, better-quality powder
- Origin: Japan is the traditional home of matcha
- Organic certification: grown without synthetic pesticides
- Grade: ceremonial grade is the smoothest for drinking straight; culinary grade is made for mixing and baking
How much matcha is too much?
The main thing to watch is caffeine. Add up everything you drink in a day (coffee, tea, energy drinks, matcha) and keep within what suits you. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, sensitive to caffeine or on medication, check with a health professional.
Matcha soda: an easy way to drink matcha
A traditional matcha takes a bowl, a whisk and some practice. A matcha soda is cold, sparkling and ready to drink. If you try one, look for real matcha powder on the ingredients list, not "green tea flavour".
FAQ
Is matcha safe to drink?
For most healthy adults, yes, in normal amounts. As with any caffeinated drink, keep an eye on your total caffeine for the day.
Can I drink matcha in the evening?
It contains caffeine, so if caffeine affects your sleep, treat matcha the same way you'd treat coffee or tea and have it earlier in the day.
How much caffeine is in Luma?
42–67 mg per 330 ml can.