What matcha does Starbucks use? (At Starbucks,What brand of Matcha Green Tea Powder is used? + More information)

What is Matcha green tea powder and what Matcha does Starbucks use? If You are looking for something to stir up your senses while giving you a clean bill of healthy benefits then read on.

I have taken coffee for so long that at times I consider myself a coffee addict. Despite this fact, recently my mother introduced me to green tea. Even though coffee still gets me through the day, one ancient ceremonial green tea jolts up my senses too. These days I find myself switching my orders sometimes. What can I say? Matcha green tea is slowly finding its way to my heart. So what is Matcha green tea and what brand does Starbucks have?

Starbucks uses a brand of tea called Aiya that is sourced from Japan. It is an aromatic tea made from micro-ground green tea leaves with a dash of sugar that gives it a sweet aftertaste. While considered a reputable first-harvest high-quality tea, there are other brands considered richer in quality than Aiya. This brand is manufactured in China. There are also claims that it may originate from the Wazuka region of Japan and this assures its quality.

When did Starbucks get matcha?

On the 4^th of April, 2006, Starbucks’ matcha green tea latte made its way to the world and was welcomed as a healthy alternative by many across the globe. Starbucks stopped offering it for some time but renewed its supply on 15^th April 2019. Before this, for Starbucks, ever the inventor of flavors that leave one in a cloud of food fantasy, this was not enough and in December 2017, two new flavors of the matcha drink were introduced in Starbucks stores all over Japan. They are:

• Matcha Fruity Blends Tea Latte
• Matcha & Fruity Mascarpone Frappuccino R.

Originating from China, then most popularly associated with Japan now, this tea is said to have been introduced by a Zen Buddhist monk called Myoan Esai back in the 12^th century. In present times, matcha green tea is whisked or mixed with hot water and topped with milk, cream, or any milk substitute. At Starbucks, one barrister let out some secret ingredients saying honey, pineapple, coconut milk, and ginger are also to thank for this decadent treat.

At Starbucks, what brand of matcha green tea powder is used?

As said in the beginning, the brand of matcha green tea used at Starbucks is called Aiya, which is sourced from Japan but manufactured in China. It contains green tea (matcha) and is sweetened with a dart of sugar that gives it a pleasant saccharine aftertaste when you take it. Some claim that matcha originated from the Wazuka region of Japan, and this confirms its quality. The highest quality buds are carefully picked and after that dried flat, deveined, then crashed to powder. Matcha is graded with different attributes taken into account, which is why some might argue that while Aiya is indeed good quality, it is not the best quality there is.

Is Starbucks matcha authentic? – Is Starbucks matcha powder real matcha?

Starbucks’ matcha does contain Japanese matcha. This being the case, however, the first ingredient that appears on the nutrition label is sugar which is 50%. This means that at best, the Japanese matcha available in this drink is 49.9%

Does Starbucks have unsweetened matcha?

No, it does not. Being that the base ingredient has sugar already added, Starbucks has no unsweetened matcha. Some people may consider this unhealthy but if you need a healthy boost of energy, then this should not be a problem at all. To lessen the sugar content, you can order it without the additional sweeteners. Here is the exact amount of sugar taken for every cup, made of two scoops of powder.

Amount	Hot matcha green tea	Iced matcha green tea
Tall	24 grams	20 grams
Grande	32 grams	28 grams
Venti	43 grams	39 grams

How do you order matcha at Starbucks?

There are 6 major ways to order matcha at Starbucks that will ensure you enjoy your drink. Even though there are other ways you can order it, it is not guaranteed that you will enjoy it when you take it that way. If you like your drink super sweet then you can add more pumps of syrup. Ready? Let us dive in!

You can order it as:

1. Iced matcha latte, oat milk with one pump of toffee nut syrup.
2. iced matcha latte, oat milk, and strawberry puree.
3. iced matcha latte, oat milk, and one pump of pistachio.
4. Iced matcha latte, oat milk with two pumps of vanilla, and vanilla sweet cream.
5. Iced matcha latte, oat milk with two pumps of chai, and vanilla sweet cream.
6. Iced matcha latte, oat milk with two pumps of brown sugar syrup.

FAQ Section

Is Starbucks Matcha Healthy?

While matcha is jam-packed with antioxidants and can be taken healthy when whisked with hot water, Starbucks matcha is mostly sugar which makes it less healthy.

Does Starbucks Matcha Taste Good?

It more than tastes good. It looks good too. This being the case, it all depends on how you order it. Since the powder comes mixed with sugar by default, it leaves an aftertaste of honey-like sugar which makes it sugary but not bland. There are so many ways to order it. Most people prefer syrup added in which makes it even more sweetened. If this is the case then the recommendations mentioned above will leave you begging for more.

Did Starbucks discontinue matcha?

It did discontinue it for some time after introducing it on the 4^th of April 2006. However, matcha green tea came back bigger and better on 15^th April 2019. Not only is this the case but in December 2017, two fruit drinks (Matcha Fruity Blends Tea Latte and Matcha & Fruity Mascarpone Frappuccino R) were added to the mix. At the moment, matcha green tea is offered all through the year in various parts of the globe.

Does Starbucks use Tazo matcha?

Yes, it does. According to the main Starbucks website, Tazo matcha has two main ingredients which are

1. Sugar
2. Green tea powder.

The green tea powder is a blend of sugar and Japanese blend matcha.