Starbucks Matcha: Best Drinks & Why It’s Not So Healthy
on Mar 20, 2021, Updated Apr 07, 2023
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Get the lowdown on all things Starbucks matcha, including matcha drinks on their menu and how their matcha is different than regular matcha green tea.
Matcha at Starbucks
Matcha is a Japanese green tea that has been finely ground. It’s known for being packed with antioxidants and its bright green color.
It has a slightly bitter and vegetal taste but when it’s mixed with a sweetener, it’s completely delicious.
Starbucks uses pre-sweetened matcha that’s like an instant matcha powder. Regular matcha doesn’t dissolve in water the way the Starbucks matcha does.
The two ingredients in Starbucks matcha tea blend are sugar (main ingredient) and green tea. Because the matcha is sweetened, you won’t be able to order your matcha drink unsweetened.
Starbucks used to sweeten its matcha drinks with classic syrup (along with the sugar already in the powder) but that’s no longer the case.
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RELATED: Starbucks Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino Copycat
Starbucks Matcha Drinks
Matcha Green Tea Crème Frappuccino
Ice + Whole Milk + Crème Frappuccino Syrup + Classic Syrup + Matcha Tea Blend + Whipped Cream
Nutritional value of this drink is not available.
The most popular matcha drink on the menu.
Matcha Green Tea Latte
Matcha Tea Blend + Whole Milk
Caffeine in a grande: 80 mg
Calories in a grande: 240
Sugar in a grande: 32 g
There is no syrup in this drink but it’s already sweet from the sweetened matcha tea blend. If you’re trying matcha for the first time and like your drinks really sweet, get it with Classic syrup, which is how Starbucks used to make their matcha lattes.
Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte
Ice + Matcha Tea Blend + Whole Milk
Caffeine in a grande: 80 mg
Calories in a grande: 200
Sugar in a grande: 28 g
A cold and refreshing version of the matcha latte simple made with 2% milk and ice. There’s no syrup in this drink but it’s already sweet from the sweetened matcha tea blend.
Iced Matcha Lemonade
Ice + Matcha Tea Blend + Lemonade
Caffeine in a grande: 80 mg
Calories in a grande: 120
Sugar in a grande: 27 g
Matcha tea blend is shaken with lemonade, water, and ice for a sweet and tart drink.
Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink
[No longer on the menu]
Ice + Matcha Tea Blend + Coconutmilk + Pineapple Ginger Syrup
Caffeine in a grande: 80 mg
Calories in a grande: 170
Sugar in a grande: 27 g
Matcha tea blend is shaken with a pineapple ginger syrup, coconutmilk (Starbucks’ coconut milk blend), and ice.
Buying Starbucks Matcha Tea Blend
Starbucks matcha tea blend is sold as Starbucks VIA Matcha (VIA is their line of instant drink powders) and it comes in packets portioned for individual use.
The catch is, it’s not sold in any of the Starbucks locations in the the United States. It’s only available in Starbucks locations in Asia like Singapore and Japan.
You may have some luck getting VIA Matcha on Etsy or Ebay but you can also find something similar online.
Look for sweetened matcha blends like Sweet Matcha and Matcha Latte Mix, which easily dissolve in water and are more like instant powders.
RELATED: Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte Copycat
Questions You May Have
A grande 16 oz matcha latte has about 80 mg of caffeine. In comparison, a 16 ounce latte has about 150 mg of caffeine.
Matcha is finely ground green tea leaves so they don’t actually dissolve in water. Instead, they’re suspended in water by vigorously whisking it with a bamboo matcha whisk. The matcha tea blend that Starbucks uses is a matcha instant powder so, like instant coffee, it completely dissolves in water.
Matcha whisked in hot water is healthy since it’s jam packed with antioxidants but the sweetened matcha at Starbucks is less so since it’s mostly sugar.
Related
- Ultimate Starbucks Tea Guide
- Best Starbucks Iced Teas
- 21 Best Starbucks Tea Drinks
- Every Starbucks Tea Drink Ranked by Caffeine Content
- 23 Popular Starbucks Secret Tea Menu Drinks
- Starbucks Drink Sizes
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