Matcha is quickly becoming Australia’s go-to green tea powder, revitalising everything from morning lattes to afternoon smoothies. The vibrant green superfood gives you sustained energy and mental focus, but timing your matcha may be the difference between feeling energised or jittery.
Understanding when to indulge in your matcha ritual allows you to avail yourself of its benefits to the fullest and minimise its drawbacks as well. Let us now discuss the best times to consume this traditional Japanese beverage.
Revealing Matcha’s Special Formulation
Matcha contains a combination of caffeine and L-theanine that is also distinct from coffee and traditional tea. Matcha contains about 70mg of caffeine per serving, half the content of a glass of coffee, and extremely high levels of L-theanine, an amino acid that causes focused relaxation.
This combination creates what has been termed “calm alertness” by some users. The L-theanine reduces the rate of absorption of the caffeine, removing the peak and dip of the coffee and spreading the energy surge over several hours.
Morning: Your Perfect Matcha Moment
Morning is the optimal time to consume matcha. You have higher levels of cortisol naturally between 6am and 10am, and it pairs with the matcha caffeine to get you going without overwhelming your body.
Starting your day with matcha provides you with sustained energy that will last for 4-6 hours. Since the caffeine is released slowly, you don’t get the mid-morning slump associated with drinking coffee. Improved concentration and productivity are noted by most Australian matcha consumers after replacing their morning coffee with a matcha latte or the traditional whisked version.
The morning routine also provides your body with enough time to break down the caffeine before you go to bed, thus not disturbing your sleeping pattern. Explore your bulk matcha tea buying options and get your stash ready for each morning.
Afternoon: Battling the 3pm Slump
Afternoon is also a wonderful time to have matcha. Between 1pm and 3pm, everyone experiences the energy crash because blood sugar drops and natural rhythms of the day induce people to become drowsy.
Matcha’s gradual release of energy also makes it a better choice than coffee as a drink to consume in the afternoon. Coffee may provide the quick pick-me-up followed by a subsequent crash, whereas matcha provides the steady energy that will carry you through the remainder of your workday.
The L-theanine ingredient is particularly helpful for stress during the afternoons. If you are doing work that requires time or have meetings in the afternoons, matcha can provide you with concentration without the stress that may be caused by the consumption of coffee when you are already stressed.
Evening: Travel with Caution
Nighttime use of matcha must be carefully thought about. Although matcha has less caffeine within it than coffee, it still has sufficient stimulation within it that can interfere with sleeping if it is consumed very close to bedtime.
The majority of sleep specialists recommend cutting out caffeine by 2pm if you’re extremely sensitive, or 6pm if you’re relatively sensitive to caffeine. Since matcha stays with you for 4-6 hours, a late-night matcha could have you awake till the early hours of the morning.
Of course, for individuals who are very low sensitivity to caffeine, even a bit of matcha at early evening is not sleep disruptive. It is then just a matter of self-awareness and a balance between late-day stimulation and a quality night of sleep.
Discovering Your Perfect Matcha Ceremony
The optimal time for matcha depends on your own caffeine sensitivity, sleep pattern, and the needs of your lifestyle. For most Australians, matcha in the morning is the best, possibly with a small additional amount in the afternoon if necessary.
Start by replacing morning coffee with matcha for a week. See how long the energy will last and whether there will be any interference with your sleep. This will allow you to determine whether afternoon matcha will work for you in your life.
Also remember that matcha is optimally experienced when you sip it in a meditative state. Don’t rush your preparation but take a pause to whisk your matcha slowly and just be present in the moment. This exercise in mindfulness is one way to extend the ritual and effect of this incredible green powder.