Nowadays, matcha has become trendier than ever. No wonder – the powdered tea is incredibly photogenic and, most importantly, it’s good for you. However, it does contain caffeine.
Trader Joe’s Matcha Green Powder Tea is a fantastic single-ingredient product that is made out of green tea leaves in Japan. A lot of true matcha lovers adore this product for its superior quality and taste. But do bear in mind that one packet can contain up to 66 mg of caffeine.
You should closely monitor your caffeine intake even if you’re not sensitive to the substance as consuming too much of it can lead to various side effects.
What Are the Ingredients of Trader Joe’s Matcha?
Trader Joe’s has matcha available in powder form and in a can. Even though the main ingredient in both of these products is matcha powder the two are not the same thing.
Matcha Green Powder Tea
Trader Joe’s Matcha Green Powder Tea is the real deal as it’s a single-ingredient product. The emerald-green tea powder has been made out of tea leaves that have been grown and grounded in Japan.
There are seven 1.5-gram packets in the box and each packet contains 5 calories and less than 1 gram of dietary fiber.
By the way, a package would cost you $7.49 which is a reasonable price for 7 servings of high-quality matcha.
Matcha Green Tea
If you want to have some tea straight away, then opt for Trader Joe’s canned Matcha Green Tea.
It is unsweetened and made out of Japanese green tea leaves. But, unlike the powder tea, this product does contain a few extra ingredients apart from water and matcha powder:
- Green tea
- Ascorbic acid – to maintain the color
- Xanthan gum (soy, wheat) – to thicken and stabilize the drink
One 8.2-oz can will cost you $1.29. It contains 0 calories, 15 mg of sodium, 230.3 IU of vitamin A, and 61.25 mg of vitamin C (which is 100% of the daily value, by the way).
To check the current price and availability of Trader Joe’s Matcha Green Tea, click here to view the listing on Amazon.
Does Trader Joe’s Matcha Contain Caffeine?
As both of Trader Joe’s products contain powder made out of green tea leaves, they do contain caffeine.
Typically, matcha has 19-44 mg of caffeine per gram. This means that one Matcha Green Powder Tea packet should contain anywhere between 28 and 66 mg of caffeine. For comparison, arabica coffee has 12 mg per gram of coffee, while robusta – about 27 mg.
When it comes to the majority of other green teas, they usually contain between 20 and 50 mg of caffeine per one 8-ounce cup.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to find out how much caffeine Trader Joe’s canned matcha actually has as the package does not specify it.
What Are the Potential Health Benefits and Risks of Trader Joe’s Matcha?
Benefits of Drinking Matcha
Drinking Matcha Green Tea has a wide variety of benefits. Some of these benefits include:
- Matcha is rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants and flavonoids have antimicrobial effects and can help reduce inflammation and even prevent tooth decay.
- Green tea may improve cardiovascular health
Matcha has plenty of micronutrients that can support the healthy functioning of this system. For example, it can help prevent plaque build-up and thickening of heart tissue.
- It can aid in weight loss
Green tea in general increases fat oxidation and energy expenditure and reduces fat absorption and lipogenesis.
- Matcha may help improve skin health
Green tea is good not only for your internal organs but also for your skin. When used as a simple face mask, matcha can assist in reducing redness and giving the skin a healthy glow.
- This green tea might have a cancer-fighting effect
More studies need to be conducted to prove the anti-cancer properties of matcha. But some researchers have already shown that the consumption of green tea can actually lower the risk of stomach cancer.
Risks Associated with Consuming Matcha
You might not want to drink matcha if you have caffeine sensitivity.
You also shouldn’t consume the tea in large doses. Limit your intake to 3 cups per day. Otherwise, you might have to deal with potential side effects such as an upset stomach, diarrhea, dehydration, insomnia, and anemia.
How to Prepare Trader Joe’s Matcha
According to Trader Joe’s description, all you would have to do to turn their Matcha Green Tea Powder into the bright-green drink is mix 1 packet with 8 ounces of hot water.
If you like to have your tea on the go, then you can always pour the packet into a water bottle filled with cold water and shake the bottle until the tea gets blended.
However, if you like to take your time while preparing a cup of tea and you have all the necessary tools to make matcha ‘the right way’, then here’s what you can do:
- Sift the packet of Trader Joe’s Matcha Green Tea Powder into a cup using a small sifter.
- Add around 8 ounces of very hot water (ideally, you would want to use water just under a boil).
- Use a special bamboo whisk called a ‘chasen’ to vigorously mix the powder and the water together in a zigzag motion, and continue doing that until the tea becomes frothy.
By the way, if you don’t have a sifter or you simply don’t want to use it, then add a few drops of very hot water to the powder, mix it into a paste, and then add the rest of the hot water.
If you’d like to add a bit of sweetness to the tea, then you can add a few drops of honey or maple syrup. Trader Joe’s matcha powder has an earthy and delicate taste and it’s not sweet on its own.
Final Thoughts
Trader Joe’s matcha truly is a great product. If you are already a fan of this powdered tea or want to start drinking it, you might want to consider buying this affordable, yet high-quality green tea powder.
However, always remember that even healthy products should be consumed in moderation. Do not drink more than 3 cups of matcha per day, if you don’t want to deal with the side effects, and limit your intake even more if you have caffeine sensitivity.
