Matcha effect: What happens in your body? (Scientifically explained)

Matcha is known worldwide as a superfood - but what is actually behind it? We take a look at the research situation, without exaggeration.

What's in matcha?

Matcha contains three main active ingredients that work together:

• Caffeine - increases alertness and concentration
• L-theanine - an amino acid that occurs naturally in green tea
• EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) - an antioxidant of the catechin group

As you consume the whole tea powder instead of brewing it, you absorb all the ingredients in full.

Caffeine and concentration

One portion of matcha (1-2g) contains approx. 25-70mg of caffeine - less than coffee (80-100mg), but more than normal green tea. The caffeine works more evenly and for longer due to the simultaneous presence of L-theanine - without the typical caffeine crash.

L-theanine - what the research says

L-theanine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in green tea. A clinical study by Unno et al. (2018) investigated whether matcha with a high L-theanine content influences the perception of stress. The results showed measurably lower anxiety scores in the matcha group compared to the placebo group.

Antioxidants - more than normal green tea?

Researchers at the University of Colorado have shown that matcha contains significantly more EGCG than infused green tea - because with matcha you consume the whole leaf. EGCG belongs to the group of catechins. Whether and to what extent EGCG works in the human body is still the subject of ongoing research.

Sleep and recovery

A study by Uchida et al. (2024) investigated the influence of matcha consumption on cognitive function and sleep quality in older adults. The participants in the matcha group showed improvements in certain cognition tests.

Conclusion

Matcha is a high-quality natural product with interesting ingredients. The research is promising - but it is no substitute for a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. If you are looking for pure Matcha without flavors and additives: MatchaTime offers exclusively organic ceremonial grade from Uji, Japan.

Discover our organic matcha

Sources

1. Kochman et al (2021). Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules, 26(1), 85. PMC7796401.
2. Unno et al (2018). Stress-Reducing Function of Matcha Green Tea. Nutrients, 10(10), 1468. PMC6213777.
3. Uchida et al (2024). Effect of matcha green tea on cognitive functions and sleep quality in older adults. PLOS ONE, 19(10). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309287.

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Note: This article is for information purposes only and is based on published scientific studies. The research results mentioned do not replace medical advice. Matcha is a food and not a remedy.