If you are in the search of “Is Starbucks Matcha Sweetener Healthy?”, then this article is for you. Who does not know Starbucks? One of the largest multinational corporations with so many branches in many countries. They were first established in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl. Now, they have more than 30,000 retail stores in 84 markets.
Even though they are labeled as one of the largest coffee companies, the product they sell is not only coffee as you all know that Starbucks has a lot of beverages, drinks, and food besides their main product, which is coffee. In this article, I will focus on discussing one of their menus, the Starbucks Matcha, and I will elaborate on some facts to answer the main topic of this article “Is Starbucks Matcha Sweetener Healthy?”. Then, I will conclude.
Things You Must Know Related to the Starbucks Matcha
Here are several things that you need to know about the Starbucks matcha.
- The iced matcha tea latte has the same flavors and toppings as the iced coffee.
- There are approximately ten different kinds of matcha drinks in Starbucks.
- Matcha Tea Latte
- Matcha Crème Frappuccino
- Iced Matcha Tea Latte
- Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink
- Iced Matcha Lemonade
- Matcha Pink Drink
- Green Tea Matcha
- Secret Menu Green Drink
- Cha Cha Latte
- Peppermint Pow Frappuccino
- All drinks that contain matcha also have caffeine in them.
- Not all drinks are sugar-free, meaning they all use sugar in them.
- One of the best-selling menus here.
- For the hot matcha type, they provide 4 cup sizes. As for the cold ones, they only provide three (no short ones).
Facts About Matcha
Matcha is a finely ground powder derived from the green tea plant grown and finely processed. Usually, the matcha that is often used is matcha from Japan. Not only used as an ingredient in drinks, but matcha can also be and is often used as food ingredients, sauces, snacks such as chocolate, and others. Here are some facts about matcha.
- It has a higher caffeine content than coffee.
Keep in mind that matcha has more caffeine than coffee. In comparison, one teaspoon of matcha contains about 70 mg of caffeine, while the caffeine content of one expresso shot is only around 64 mg; this, of course, makes matcha stronger than coffee in providing an energy boost to your body.
- Beneficial for health
The high antioxidant content in matcha makes matcha can help the health of our bodies. In addition, the content of vitamins, minerals, and so on in matcha makes this powder very suitable for consumption for health. Besides being delicious to eat, matcha also has several promising benefits for the body, including the following.
- Eliminate bad breath
- Slow down aging
- Control blood sugar
- Good for body metabolism
- Reduce blood pressure
- Help reduce stress
- Versatile powder
As we all know, matcha has a thousand uses that we can take advantage of. Besides being able to be consumed, matcha can also be used as a skincare product and in traditional medicine. No wonder some people refer to matcha as a versatile powder.
How About Matcha Mixed with Sugar or Sweetener?
Often people do this to enjoy matcha, whether it’s in drinks or food. So, will the nutritional content of matcha be lost or covered if it is mixed with sugar or sweeteners?
Logically, the high antioxidant content in this powder is very good for consumption. However, besides that, it is not uncommon for people to add sweeteners so that the taste of this matcha is more pronounced.
However, if it is mixed like that, antioxidant content in this powder will not be lost as long as it is mixed with natural sweeteners such as honey, syrup, and so on. Otherwise, if it is mixed with artificial sweeteners containing chemicals, it will certainly harm your body.
Matcha Drink Recommendation at Starbucks
After discussing the nutritional content and several types of matcha drinks offered at Starbucks, here are some recommendations for matcha drinks based on my experience.
- Iced Matcha Tea Latte
On the first rank, no doubt that I will put an iced matcha tea latte in this position. Besides its originality, the taste of matcha combined with a latte and served with ice gives me a unique sensation in enjoying this drink. For information, the calories contained in this drink are 240 calories.
- Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink
Next, in the second position, an iced pineapple matcha drink contains 170 calories. I think this is the right choice for those of you who like matcha blends with fresh fruit flavors. Suitable to be enjoyed while relaxing during the day, especially in hot weather.
- Matcha Crème Frappuccino
Let’s go to the hot drinks; then there is the matcha crème frappuccino which is very suitable for enjoying in hot conditions. I usually drink this when I’m studying or reading a book. It is beneficial to relieve stress with the antioxidants contained in it. The number of calories in this drink is about 420 calories.
- Matcha Tea Latte
Finally, a drink that you should not miss to accompany your relaxing time. For me, this drink is suitable to be consumed in the morning or late in the evening while accompanying your relaxing activities. Just like the crème frappuccino, I usually drink this drink while studying or reading a book. The number of calories in this drink is about 240 calories.
Conclusion
In conclusion, yes, Starbucks Matcha uses healthy sweetener, on the record that the sweeteners used must be natural. Otherwise, if the sweetener used is artificial, this cannot be said to be healthy because the chemical content in artificial sweeteners is not suitable for consumption by the body.
Apart from that, know that matcha does have a lot of benefits for the body, and not only can it be consumed, but it can also be used as skincare or traditional medicine. Starting from eliminating lousy breath, slowing down aging, controlling blood sugar, good for body metabolism, reducing blood pressure, to helping reduce stress.
FAQ’s
- Is matcha healthier than coffee?
The answer is yes. Even though it has higher caffeine than coffee, matcha has other valuable benefits for human health.
- Will drinking too much matcha make you fat?
- Technically it’s not. Because matcha has many antioxidants, good for our metabolism; however, if you consume matcha with artificial sweeteners in excess amounts, you can experience obesity.
