While green tea’s benefits may seem like old news, new research has uncovered some of matcha’s unique health-promoting properties.

Compared with other green teas, matcha has a higher concentration of bioavailable compounds, including chlorophyll and theanine, due to how it is grown. Once harvested, match is ground into a powder, using every part of the leaf.

Jakubczyk K, Szymczykowska K, Kika J, et al. Exploring the Influence of Origin, Harvest Time, and Cultivation Method on Antioxidant Capacity and Bioactive Compounds of Matcha Teas. Foods. 2024;13(8):1270. April 21, 2024. doi:10.3390/foods13081270.

 

 

Aging, cognition, and neurodegenerative disease

 

Regular caffeine consumption is also linked to less age-related cognitive decline, particularly in older women.

Kochman J, Jakubczyk K, Antoniewicz J, et al. Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules. 2020;26(1):85. December 27, 2020. doi:10.3390/molecules26010085.

 

However, one study attempted to evaluate matcha’s effects independent of caffeine. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study divided participants into three groups. Over a 12-week test period, they received nine capsules each morning of placebo, caffeine, or matcha. While caffeine was associated with faster reaction times in cognitive function tests, researchers found that the theanine in matcha provided anti-stress effects that improved attention.

Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, et al. Effects of Daily Matcha and Caffeine Intake on Mild Acute Psychological Stress-Related Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2021; 13(5):1700. doi:10.3390/nu13051700.

 

In addition, matcha is exceptionally high in the powerful polyphenol that reduces inflammation and oxidation in the brain: rutin. Matcha has more rutin than even buckwheat—one of the best food sources.

Kochman J, Jakubczyk K, Antoniewicz J, et al. Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules. 2020;26(1):85. December 27, 2020. doi:10.3390/molecules26010085.

 

 

Dental health and immunity

 

Matcha has antimicrobial properties that show promise in the fight against periodontal disease. The bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis is primarily responsible for periodontitis. During a Japanese study, matcha inhibited the growth of P. gingivalis in the lab.

Nakao R, Takatsuka A, Mandokoro K, et al. Multimodal inhibitory effect of matcha on Porphyromonas gingivalis. Microbiol Spectr. 2024;12(7):e03426-23. doi:10.1128/spectrum.03426-23.

 

 

While the matcha mouthwash positively impacted shallow periodontal pockets, it wasn’t as effective on deeper pockets of periodontitis. As a result, the researchers suggested that perhaps administering matcha in a gel or ointment via more targeted methods like a syringe may be worth considering.

Nakao R, Takatsuka A, Mandokoro K, et al. Multimodal inhibitory effect of matcha on Porphyromonas gingivalis. Microbiol Spectr. 2024;12(7):e03426-23. doi:10.1128/spectrum.03426-23.

 

 

Exercise recovery and metabolism

 

A cup of matcha has double the concentration of catechins as standard green tea infusions. Matcha is also higher in vitamin K, fiber, and the carotenoid lutein.

Matcha protects the body against stress (as measured by salivary cortisol levels) and fatigue from exercise. During a 12-week intervention, matcha promoted a more significant skeletal muscle response to resistance training in young men compared to placebo due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Shigeta M, Aoi W, Morita C, et al. Matcha green tea beverage moderates fatigue and supports resistance training-induced adaptation. Nutr J. 2023;22(1):32. Published 2023 Jul 5. doi:10.1186/s12937-023-00859-4.

 

According to other studies on matcha and the regulation of the central nervous system, “Matcha green tea has been reported to have outstanding potential in regulating obesity-related metabolic syndrome.” Matcha supplements have been proposed as a potential intervention to reduce fat accumulation, blood sugar, and the chronic inflammation of obesity.

Zhou J, Lin H, Xu P, et al. Matcha green tea prevents obesity-induced hypothalamic inflammation via suppressing the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Food Funct. 2020;11(10):8987-8995. doi:10.1039/d0fo01500h.

 

All green tea has known antidiabetic effects, but the compounds in matcha tea have superior bioavailability. Analyses have shown that the antioxidant activity in matcha tea is up to 2.4 times greater than in regular green tea. Matcha also inhibits α-glucosidase at a 1.7-times-higher rate.

Jakubczyk K, Szymczykowska K, Kika J, et al. Exploring the Influence of Origin, Harvest Time, and Cultivation Method on Antioxidant Capacity and Bioactive Compounds of Matcha Teas. Foods. 2024;13(8):1270. April 21, 2024. doi:10.3390/foods13081270.