To many, matcha is 100% the new coffee. A star of coffee shops and social feeds alike, these bright green lattes are delicious and healthy, boasting both a subtle flavor and some serious wellness benefits. Plus, preparing your own matcha drink doubles as a grounding morning ritual that rivals your pour-over routine.

Keep reading to learn more about what matcha really is, the upsides of sipping, and why the beverage offers a more sustainable morning (or anytime) habit.

What Is Matcha?

Matcha is a powdered green tea that’s loaded with antioxidants. Rather than those that are steeped and tossed, matcha relies on ground tea leaves so fine that they blend into water or milk, ensuring that all of the medicinal benefits of the plants go into your beverage (and thus your body) rather than the trash.

Sans sweetener, matcha has a subtle, woodsy taste that sets it apart from both coffee and traditional green tea, which tend to be more aromatic with fruit notes. Matcha is usually dissolved into water (often with the help of a designated whisk and bowl, the ritualistic portion of the preparation) before it’s blended into a latte or enjoyed as a tea.

Why Drink Matcha?

Matcha is an excellent alternative to coffee for anyone who gets too jittery from a cup of java. Its caffeine concentration is lower than coffee but higher than green tea, so it provides a worthy middleground. Matcha’s caffeine content can range from 19 to 44 milligrams per gram, whereas an eight-ounce cup of coffee can contain between 80 to 100 milligrams of caffeine.

Also, because matcha is so rich in antioxidants, it can help protect our bodies against a variety of environmental aggressors, preventing cell damage and even chronic disease. One study showed that mice who took matcha supplements experienced a reduction in free radical damage and an increase in antioxidant activity.  

Matcha is also linked to improved brain function, better heart health, stronger livers, and weight loss. And lastly? It’s yummy.

How Is Matcha Sustainable?

In addition to making use of tea leaves in their entirety, minimizing food waste, the plant used to produce matcha can live for half a century or longer. This equates to a long and inherently sustainable production process.

Coffee, on the other hand, requires up to 37 gallons of water per cup. Since all coffee is not Fair Trade coffee, certain production processes rely on chemicals and toxins to keep up with demand for the crop, making matcha a generally mellower, more natural alternative.

Ready to give matcha a try? Keep scrolling for our top eight picks for matcha powders in 2023.

The 8 Best Matcha Powders for Your Morning Caffeine Kick