Now Going Viral, Here's the Amount of Caffeine in Matcha and Its Effects

Matcha, a type of drink that is increasingly popular in Indonesian society. (Pexels/NipananLifestyle)

JAKARTA - Matcha is currently a food ingredient that is widely discussed on social media. Starting from the trend of matcha-based drinks and foods, it is widely discussed by netizens.

However, in the midst of this trend, it should be remembered that matcha also contains caffeine so that excessive consumption is not recommended. Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder.

Quoted from Real Simple, on Friday, May 30, 2025, matcha and green tea both come from tea trees. However, matcha is made from tea leaves that are deliberately planted in the shade to increase chlorophyll and L-theanine levels.

This process makes matcha have a bright green color and a distinctive umami taste. Apart from its taste, matcha also contains varying amounts of caffeine, depending on how the matcha is prepared.

"Ceremonial matcha usually contains around 30 to 60 milligrams of caffeine per serving," said expert from The Republic of Tea, Kristina Tucker.

The caffeine content of matcha is also influenced by the type of matcha. Ceremonial matcha made from high-quality young leaves tends to have a higher caffeine content, compared to culinary matcha which is generally used for cooking or mixed with food.

Meanwhile, even though it contains caffeine, matcha cannot actually be equated and used as a substitute for coffee. This is because there is a comparison between the two drinks.

One cup of matcha can contain 30 to 60 mg of caffeine, depending on the amount of grounds used. Meanwhile, one cup of coffee (8 ounces) can contain around 95 to 200 mg of caffeine.

Thus, although matcha contains caffeine, the levels are much lower than coffee. However, thanks to the content of L-theanine, an amino acid, the effects of caffeine in matcha tend to be more stable and do not cause jitters like after drinking coffee.