If you’re wondering “Does matcha have calories?”, the short answer is yes. But how many calories are in matcha? 🤔
Unlike standard green tea, matcha powder is made from finely ground tea leaves, so you’re consuming the entire leaf. This tiny difference means matcha calories do exist, although they are still quite minimal.
In this article, we’ll show you how many calories are in matcha, where those calories come from, and how you can keep them low when preparing matcha drinks.
Let’s dive in! 🍃
So, how many calories are in matcha? 5 calories!
How many calories are in matcha? A standard serving of matcha (about 2 grams or 1 teaspoon) contains around 5 calories and about 0.3 grams of protein. That’s remarkably low, especially when you consider that you get a concentrated dose of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in every sip.
Does matcha powder have calories?
So does matcha powder have calories? One teaspoon (approximately 2 grams) of matcha powder contains about 5 calories.
For those asking, “How many calories does matcha have in total?” the answer depends on how you prepare it. If you drink matcha plain (with water only), you’ll typically consume only about 5 calories per cup.
By the way, the amount of calories in matcha is different than a standard green tea. If you want to learn more about that, you'll want to read our article 👉 What You Need to Know about Green Tea Calories
Where do matcha calories come from?
So why does matcha have calories and where do the matcha calories come from? Because Matcha is made from tea leaves, They are not very calorie dense to begin with. When you compare the calories in 100 grams of lettuce vs 100 grams of meat, you get some idea of how many calories does matcha have.
So now that we’ve covered does matcha powder have calories, let’s talk about the other side of the equation. When 2 grams of matcha powder are mixed with 100ml (100 grams of water) you dilute the matcha calories even further.
A matcha with water isn’t a matcha latte!
Still, if you add milk or plant based milk, you’re making a matcha latte, you’ll increase the total calories in matcha. Matcha latte calories vs plain matcha with water is significantly different. To learn how many calories are in the matcha latte, make sure to read our article 👉 Matcha Latte Calories: A Full Breakdown
In the next section, we’ll show you how to keep your calories in matcha as low as possible!
Reducing Matcha Calories
If you’ve ever wondered, “Does matcha have calories?” or “How many calories are in matcha?”, the good news is they’re very low—but you can still lower your matcha calories even further. If you’re mindful of calories in matcha and want to keep your drink light, here are a few tips:
Adjust Your Serving Size
Since how many calories does matcha have depends on how much you drink, try cutting back on the size of your daily latte. You’ll reduce your overall matcha calorie count while still enjoying the taste and health benefits.
Choose Alternative Sweeteners
Worried about added sugar raising your matcha calories? Opt for calorie-free or low-calorie sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit. This keeps the calories in matcha low without sacrificing sweetness.
Don’t make a matcha latte, make a ceremonial matcha!
If you love a latte but want fewer matcha calories, try to not add low-fat dairy or plant-based options like almond, soy, or oat milk. Removing these ingredients seriously cut down on matcha calories.
How many calories are in matcha compared to other drinks?
Curious about how many calories are in matcha versus your everyday beverages?
A standard 2g serving of matcha powder has roughly 5 calories, while a cup of brewed green tea generally clocks in at an almost negligible 0–2 calories.
In contrast, an 8 oz glass of orange juice contains about 110 calories, a 12 oz can of cola is around 95 calories, and a small cappuccino with whole milk usually ranges from 80–110 calories.
So, matcha calories remain impressively low, especially when you consider all the potent health benefits it comes with.
How many calories are in matcha - The Final Verdict
While matcha calories are very low compared to other foods and drinks, it’s the things we add to matcha that increase the calorie count. Tea is considered to be almost a calorie free beverage, but even adding a little bit of sweetener can quickly change that.
Reducing the calories in matcha
If you want to reduce your matcha calorie intake, it’s not about consuming less matcha powder and more about adding less to your matcha. Although the occasional matcha latte can be a delicious treat, we recommend people try to enjoy matcha plain.
If you get a premium, ceremonial grade matcha like the matcha washimine, you’ll find that it is smooth enough to drink plain. It contains no additional calories compared to a low quality matcha, but it tastes so much better.
If you want great tasting matcha without too many matcha calories, this is a good place to start. So does matcha have calories? If you prepare it the right way, it has very little!
