Matcha 101: Health Benefits & Best Matcha Drinks in Miami

What Is Matcha?

Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves, and it is fundamentally different from every other type of tea you have ever had. While regular green tea involves steeping leaves in water and then discarding them, matcha dissolves directly into the liquid, meaning you consume the entire leaf. This single distinction is what gives matcha its extraordinary concentration of flavor, color, and nutrients.

The journey from tea plant to matcha powder is meticulous and labor-intensive. Three to four weeks before harvest, tea farmers cover the plants with shade structures, blocking about 90% of direct sunlight. This forces the leaves to overproduce chlorophyll (which gives matcha its vivid emerald green color) and dramatically increases the production of L-theanine, an amino acid responsible for matcha's uniquely calm yet focused energy. After harvest, the leaves are steamed to halt oxidation, dried, stripped of their stems and veins, and finally stone-ground into an ultra-fine powder using traditional granite mills. It can take an hour to grind just 30 grams of matcha, which speaks to the care and precision behind every serving.

Matcha has been central to Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) for over 800 years, where the preparation and sharing of matcha is elevated to a meditative art form. Today, it has become one of the most sought-after specialty tea products in the world, embraced not just for its cultural significance but for its remarkable health benefits and versatile use in lattes, smoothies, baking, and more.

Ceremonial vs Culinary Grade Matcha

Not all matcha is created equal, and understanding the difference between grades will help you make better choices whether you are ordering at a cafe or buying powder for home use.

Ceremonial Grade

This is the highest quality matcha available. It is made from the youngest, most tender tea leaves at the top of the plant, harvested during the first flush of spring. The color is a vibrant, almost electric green. The flavor is smooth, naturally sweet, and complex, with very little bitterness. Ceremonial grade matcha is designed to be whisked with just hot water and enjoyed on its own, though it also makes the finest matcha lattes. When you order a matcha latte at a quality specialty tea shop, this is ideally what they are using.

Culinary Grade

Culinary matcha is made from slightly more mature leaves and may include leaves from later harvests. The color tends to be a deeper, more muted green, sometimes with yellowish tones. The flavor is stronger and more astringent, which is actually desirable when matcha is being used as an ingredient in baking (cookies, cakes, muffins), smoothies, ice cream, or chocolate. Culinary grade is not inferior — it is simply designed for a different purpose. Using ceremonial grade for baking would be wasteful, since the subtle nuances would be lost in the other ingredients.

For drinking, always choose ceremonial. For baking, go culinary. For lattes, ceremonial will give you the best flavor, but a high-quality culinary grade works well too.

Health Benefits of Matcha

Matcha's health benefits are not just marketing hype — they are backed by a growing body of scientific research. Because you consume the whole leaf rather than just an infusion, matcha delivers nutrients in a far more concentrated form than regular steeped green tea:

• Rich in L-theanine: This amino acid promotes a state of calm alertness without drowsiness. It increases alpha brain wave activity, which is associated with relaxation, focus, and creativity. This is why matcha provides energy that feels different from coffee — alert but not anxious, focused but not jittery.
• 137x more antioxidants than regular green tea: A study published in the Journal of Chromatography found that matcha contains approximately 137 times the amount of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) — a potent catechin antioxidant — compared to standard green tea. EGCG is associated with anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular health, and cellular protection.
• Metabolism support: Research suggests that the combination of caffeine and catechins in matcha can increase thermogenesis (the body's rate of calorie burning) from the normal 8-10% to between 35-43% of daily energy expenditure.
• Sustained focus and concentration: The synergy between L-theanine and caffeine in matcha has been shown to improve attention, reaction time, and memory performance in multiple studies. Unlike coffee, which can impair fine motor skills at high doses, matcha tends to sharpen cognitive function without negative side effects.
• Moderate caffeine: A typical serving of matcha contains 30–50mg of caffeine, roughly one-third to one-half the amount in a standard cup of coffee. The caffeine is released slowly thanks to L-theanine, producing sustained energy over 4–6 hours rather than the quick spike and crash pattern of coffee.

Matcha vs Coffee: Caffeine Comparison

If you are thinking about switching from coffee to matcha — or even just adding matcha into your routine — understanding how their caffeine profiles differ is essential.

Coffee contains 95–200mg of caffeine per 8-ounce cup, depending on the brew method and bean origin. That caffeine hits your system quickly, typically within 15–45 minutes, creating a noticeable spike in energy and alertness. For many people, this is followed by a crash 2–3 hours later, along with potential side effects like jitters, increased heart rate, anxiety, and disrupted sleep. Coffee is also acidic, which can aggravate digestive issues in sensitive individuals.

Matcha contains 30–50mg of caffeine per serving, but the experience is qualitatively different. The presence of L-theanine modulates how caffeine is absorbed and utilized by the brain. Instead of a rapid spike, matcha provides a gradual onset of focused energy that lasts 4–6 hours. There is no crash, no jitters, and no anxious edge. Many people describe the feeling as "calm alertness" — mentally sharp and productive, but relaxed and centered at the same time.

This does not mean matcha should replace coffee for everyone. Some people genuinely need and enjoy the stronger caffeine hit that coffee provides, and there is nothing wrong with that. But if you find that coffee makes you anxious, disrupts your sleep, or gives you an afternoon crash, matcha is worth exploring as an alternative or complement. Many specialty tea drinkers enjoy coffee in the morning and switch to matcha in the afternoon for sustained productivity without interfering with sleep.

How to Make Matcha at Home

Making matcha at home is straightforward once you know the basics. Here is a simple method that produces excellent results every time:

1. Sift your matcha: Using a fine mesh strainer, sift 1–2 teaspoons of matcha powder into a bowl or mug. This breaks up any clumps and ensures a smooth result. Skipping this step is the most common mistake beginners make, and it leads to a lumpy, uneven drink.
2. Add hot water: Pour about 2 ounces (60ml) of hot water at 175°F (80°C) over the sifted matcha. This temperature is important — boiling water (212°F) will scorch the matcha, destroying its delicate flavor and producing bitterness. If you do not have a thermometer, bring water to a boil and then let it cool for 2–3 minutes.
3. Whisk vigorously: Using a bamboo chasen (traditional matcha whisk) or an electric milk frother, whisk the matcha and water in a quick back-and-forth or W-shaped motion until the surface is covered with a fine, uniform froth. This should take about 15–20 seconds. The froth is a sign that the matcha is properly dissolved and aerated.
4. For a latte: Add 6–8 ounces of your milk of choice (dairy, oat, almond, or soy all work well), steamed or heated. Pour it over the whisked matcha and stir gently. For a sweetened latte, add honey, agave, or vanilla syrup to taste.
5. For iced matcha: Whisk the matcha with the hot water as described above, then pour over a glass filled with ice. Add cold milk and sweetener if desired. Shake it in a cocktail shaker for an extra frothy result.

Best Matcha Drinks in Miami

If you would rather leave the whisking to the experts — or if you want to try matcha in forms that go beyond the standard latte — specialTEA Lounge & Cafe on Coral Way in Miami has been serving matcha since long before it became a mainstream trend.

The matcha menu at specialTEA Lounge includes several options to suit every mood and season. The matcha latte is available hot or iced with your choice of milk, including organic soy, almond, and oat milk, making it fully customizable for any dietary preference. The matcha freeze is a blended frozen matcha drink that is perfect for Miami's warm weather — think of it as a matcha smoothie with a thick, creamy texture. For boba lovers, any matcha drink can be upgraded with tapioca pearls or popping boba, bridging the worlds of Japanese tea culture and Taiwanese boba tradition in one cup.

And then there are the matcha chocolate chip cookies, baked fresh daily at the cafe. These vegan-friendly cookies combine the earthy, slightly sweet flavor of culinary matcha with rich chocolate chips, and they have developed a devoted following among regular customers. Pair one with a hot matcha latte for the ultimate matcha experience.

specialTEA Lounge is located near FIU at 10766 SW 24th Street in Miami's 33165 zip code. As Miami-Dade's first and only dedicated tea lounge since 2009, it is the kind of place that takes specialty tea seriously while keeping the atmosphere relaxed, cozy, and welcoming. Whether you are a matcha veteran or trying it for the first time, the staff will help you find the perfect drink. Come discover why matcha has become one of the most beloved items on the menu.