Matcha gives you energy and it is one of the best natural energizing drinks, even better than coffee. I’ll show you how long matcha gives you energy and why, in my opinion, it is better than coffee!
Key Highlights
Does Matcha Give You Energy?
Matcha gives you energy because it contains caffeine and L-theanine. This combination of caffeine and L-theanine in matcha is responsible for an energy boost that lasts longer than the energy boost from coffee’s caffeine or other energy drinks.
You all know that caffeine is a great energy booster, but when it comes to matcha, the amino acid L-theanine is very important for matcha’s energy-boosting effects.
Additionally, when you drink matcha green tea, your focus and concentration increase, and again, L-theanine is responsible for this.
So what is L-theanine? L-theanine is an amino acid found naturally in the Camellia sinensis (tea) plant as well as several species of mushrooms.
While all true teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant have L-theanine, some shade-grown green teas like matcha and gyokuro are extremely high in L-theanine. This amino acid is also responsible for the umami taste in tea.
Because it is difficult to determine the actual L-theanine content of different teas, one tea may be rich in L-theanine if it has a distinct umami flavor. This is characteristic of high-quality gyokuro tea and ceremonial-grade matcha.
Good to know: Here is a detailed article that explains the difference between matcha and green tea.
Furthermore, I must say that the caffeine and L-theanine combination are not the only ones responsible for matcha’s long-lasting energy boost.
Matcha is also rich in catechins – antioxidants that fight free radicals in our bodies. One of the most powerful catechins present in green tea and therefore in matcha is EGCG.
Aside from its incredible antioxidant abilities, EGCG also appears to be a crucial element in speeding up metabolism. So, matcha speeds up the process of food digestion in our bodies, providing the nutrients we require for increased energy!
Additionally, some studies suggest that tea catechins, such as EGCG, may aid in improving performance during endurance sports.
When you consume matcha tea, you’re consuming the entire green tea leaf, which is ground into a fine powder. So you consume 100% of the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals present in green tea leaves.
The opposite of this is that when you drink regular green tea, you are just consuming the water-soluble components of the leaf, not the entire leaf.
When compared to energy drinks, they hardly ever contain any nutrients. They all have significant levels of sugar or other artificial sweeteners, and caffeine is present in almost all of them. With matcha, you get plenty of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
How Long Does Matcha Give You Energy?
Matcha gives you a longer energy boost, which can last for about 4-6 hours. Additionally, matcha doesn’t cause the “sudden crash” that many people feel an hour or two after consuming coffee.
How is this different from coffee’s energy boost? Matcha boosts energy by delivering caffeine to your body slowly and in a more healthy manner than coffee or caffeinated drinks.
Instead of supplying the body with a large amount of caffeine all at once, matcha’s gradual and steady release of energy gives the body the perfect amount of caffeine over a longer period of time.
As opposed to coffee’s fast 30-minute peak, crash, and “jitters,” matcha is said to provide an ongoing energy boost.
An 8 oz cup of matcha tea contains approximately 64 mg of caffeine. This is much lower than the average of 95 mg of caffeine in a cup of black coffee.
More about matcha’s caffeine content here.
So, matcha contains lower caffeine content but provides a longer energy boost compared to a cup of coffee. How is this possible?
Again, the primary role here is played by the amino acid L-theanine. It slows the body’s absorption of caffeine so that you experience sustained energy throughout the day rather than a quick jolt followed by a crash.
L-theanine slows caffeine’s absorption into the body, but it is not present in coffee or energy drinks.
According to research, L-theanine also stimulates dopamine, the brain’s naturally occurring “feel good” chemical, and alpha wave brain activity, which is a sign of alertness. These effects work together to boost mood and attention while easing stress.
How to Use Matcha to Boost Your Energy
The best way to use matcha powder to boost your energy levels throughout the day is to drink traditional matcha tea made with high-quality matcha powder.
If for any reason you don’t have time to whisk the powder, or for any other reason, there are other ways to use matcha as an energy booster, such as:
- Add matcha to a smoothie
- Make a warm matcha latte
- Add matcha to energy bites
- Make cold brew matcha
- Stir it into oatmeal
- Make an energizing slushy
No matter how you use this green tea powder, you’ll certainly get an energy boost. My recommendation for you is to make traditional matcha tea. If you use ceremonial grade matcha instead of culinary grade for your tea, I’m sure that you’ll like it.
For smoothies, lattes, or cooking, you can use culinary-grade matcha.
FAQ
Matcha contains caffeine. Even though the caffeine content is lower than that of coffee, it’s not recommended to drink matcha tea late at night because it can keep you awake, especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine.
Matcha’s caffeine is absorbed and released throughout the body over a period of 4-6 hours. So, it’s best not to drink matcha for several hours before you go to bed.
The best times to drink matcha tea for energy are in the morning, before a workout, or in the afternoon, instead of coffee. Avoid drinking matcha on an empty stomach in the morning, don’t drink matcha tea at the same time as your main meals, and avoid drinking matcha tea late at night.
It’s best to limit your matcha tea consumption to 1-2 cups per day and opt for certified organic varieties.
The Takeaway
Matcha gives you energy because it contains caffeine and L-theanine. After drinking matcha, you get prolonged, longer-lasting energy that can last for about 4-6 hours.
The best thing is that you won’t get any of the jittery effects associated with coffee. Due to the presence of the amino acid L-theanine, you’ll get a long-lasting energy boost with increased focus and alertness when drinking matcha.
Additionally, matcha is also a healthy drink rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals – components that you can’t find in any commercial energy drinks.
When you want to use matcha as an energy booster, it is best to use matcha powder to make a traditional matcha tea. You can also use matcha for energy by adding the powder to smoothies, making lattes, or energy bites. There are so many variations on how you can add matcha to your diet.
To reap all the benefits of matcha and boost your energy levels, the best time to drink matcha tea is in the afternoon as a replacement for coffee, or in the morning, but not on an empty stomach.
As you can see, matcha is a great energy booster and you can use it in many different ways. No matter whether you drink matcha tea or matcha latte, I’m sure that matcha will help you to feel more energized throughout the day.
