Person holding a cup of matcha with notebooks on a desk.

The Best Time to Drink Matcha Tea: A Guide to Unlocking Its Full Benefits

Written by: Mecene Research Team

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Published

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Time to read 11 min

Matcha tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants, celebrated for its natural energy boost and focus-enhancing properties. Knowing the best time to drink matcha tea can unlock its full potential—whether you’re seeking an energy boost, improved focus, or even support with weight management.


Unlike coffee, which often causes energy spikes and crashes, drinking matcha tea delivers a steadier lift thanks to its unique blend of caffeine and L-theanine. In this guide, we’ll explore the ideal time to drink matcha green tea to enhance your daily routine, improve digestion, support workouts, and more. Ready to enjoy matcha tea at its best? Let’s dive in!

Person putting matcha powder on a bowl.

Best Time to Drink Matcha Tea

Timing your matcha tea consumption can make a big difference in how you feel throughout the day. Drinking matcha at the right time allows you to maximize its health benefits, including increased energy, better focus, and improved mood.


For example, many people find that enjoying matcha in the morning or early afternoon provides a balanced energy boost. In contrast, others prefer drinking matcha green tea before a workout to stay alert and energized. Let’s explore the best times to enjoy a refreshing cup of matcha tea and how each time can benefit your day.

Drinking Matcha in the Morning: Kickstart Your Day

Sipping matcha in the morning is a fantastic way to kickstart your day with steady, clean energy. Starting your day with matcha tea gives you more than just a caffeine boost. 

The natural blend of caffeine and L-theanine in matcha green tea powder delivers long-lasting energy without the crashes often experienced with coffee. Drinking matcha tea in the morning can improve focus, keep you alert, and even enhance your mood, helping you stay productive and energized well into the day. Plus, unlike coffee, it doesn’t irritate the stomach, making it ideal to drink on an empty stomach if you prefer.


How to Make the Perfect Morning Matcha


A simple guide to preparing matcha to kickstart your productivity.


  • Measure: Add 1 gram (about half a teaspoon) of ceremonial-grade matcha powder to a bowl.

  • Add hot water: Pour in about 2 ounces of hot water below boiling (170°F is ideal).

  • Whisk: Use a bamboo whisk in a zig-zag motion until a frothy layer forms on top.

  • Customize: Add almond milk or a splash of lemon juice for a creamier texture for an extra antioxidant boost.

  • Enjoy: Pour into a cup and savor your morning matcha to start the day with focus and calm energy.

Clock showing early morning hours and a steaming cup beside it.

"Drinking matcha green tea before a workout can improve focus and stamina, making it easier to stay energized and motivated during intense exercise.”

Drinking Matcha Before a Workout: Boost Performance

Sipping matcha tea before exercise can boost natural energy and enhance workout performance. Matcha is packed with catechins, powerful antioxidants that work with caffeine to support endurance and fat-burning. Drinking matcha green tea before a workout can improve focus and stamina, making it easier to stay energized and motivated during intense exercise.


Additionally, matcha’s active ingredients help you stay alert, allowing you to push through challenging sets with more energy. Unlike coffee, which can cause jitters, matcha provides a steady energy lift that supports high-intensity and endurance workouts.

When to Drink Matcha for Peak Workout Results

For optimal workout benefits, it’s best to drink matcha tea about 30 minutes before exercising. This timing allows your body to absorb the caffeine and L-theanine from matcha green tea powder, boosting energy and focus as you start your routine.


Drinking matcha slightly before your workout also helps improve recovery, as its antioxidants work to protect muscle tissues from stress. By consuming matcha in this window, you can tap into the finest matcha benefits for peak performance and effective post-exercise recovery.

Person holding an iced matcha drink.

Drinking Matcha After a Meal: Aid Digestion and Metabolism

Having matcha tea after meals can support healthy digestion and boost metabolism naturally. Matcha tea contains unique compounds, making it an excellent post-meal drink for digestive support. The catechins in matcha work to speed up metabolism and may even support weight loss when consumed regularly.


Drinking matcha tea after eating also helps to promote smoother digestion by encouraging the breakdown of fats and proteins. Plus, unlike coffee, it’s gentle on the stomach, so you can enjoy matcha tea after meals without the risk of discomfort, making it a great choice to aid your body’s natural digestive process.

Best Times to Enjoy Matcha After Eating

For the best digestive benefits, it’s ideal to drink matcha tea about 30–60 minutes after a meal. This window allows your body to begin digesting the meal first, while matcha steps in to support metabolism and nutrient absorption.


Drinking matcha green tea too soon after a meal may interfere with digestion, but a slight delay lets matcha assist with breaking down foods efficiently. With this timing, you’ll enjoy a smoother digestion process and take full advantage of matcha’s metabolic benefits, helping you feel lighter and more energized after eating.

Drinking Matcha in the Afternoon: A Perfect Pick-Me-Up

An afternoon cup of matcha tea is an excellent way to boost energy and stay focused, especially as your energy dips later in the day. Let’s examine why matcha is a better choice than coffee for afternoon energy and how to enjoy it without disrupting sleep.

Why Matcha is Better Than Coffee for an Afternoon Energy Boost

Instead of reaching for coffee in the afternoon, try a cup of matcha tea for a smoother energy lift. Unlike coffee, matcha contains caffeine and L-theanine, a natural compound that promotes relaxation without drowsiness.


This combination provides a steady, sustained boost in energy without the jittery highs and crashes that coffee can cause. Drinking matcha green tea in the afternoon keeps you alert and focused, helping you power through the rest of the day with more energy and calm.


How to Enjoy Matcha Without Disrupting Your Sleep


To avoid affecting your sleep quality, enjoy matcha in the early afternoon, ideally between 1 and 3 p.m., and stick to one cup. Due to its caffeine content, consuming matcha too late in the day can interfere with sleep.


A half teaspoon of matcha powder in your afternoon cup is enough for a refreshing energy lift without risking sleep disruption. Drinking matcha tea at this time lets you enjoy its benefits without impacting your nighttime rest.

Person pouring milk on a cup with matcha and ice.

Times to Avoid Drinking Matcha Tea

While matcha tea has many benefits, it is best to avoid drinking it at certain times of the day.

Can Matcha Affect Your Sleep?

Because matcha contains caffeine, drinking it too late in the evening can make it harder to fall asleep. To avoid this, avoid consuming matcha tea after 3 or 4 p.m., as the caffeine may still be active in your system at bedtime. The natural caffeine and L-theanine in matcha work well for a midday boost, but consuming it in the evening may disrupt your sleep quality and leave you feeling tired the next day.

Is Matcha Hard on an Empty Stomach?

While matcha is gentle compared to coffee, drinking it on an empty stomach can sometimes cause mild digestive discomfort. When consumed alone, the potent catechins and antioxidants in matcha may irritate some people’s stomach lining.


Consider drinking matcha after a light meal or snack if you have a sensitive stomach. This allows you to enjoy matcha’s benefits without any discomfort, especially when you start your day or sip it in the afternoon.

How Much Matcha Should You Drink Daily?

Matcha offers numerous health benefits, but moderation is key to avoiding any potential downsides.

What’s the Recommended Daily Amount?

To enjoy matcha’s health benefits without overdoing it, stick to 1–2 cups per day, using about 1 gram of matcha powder per cup. This amount provides enough antioxidants, L-theanine, and caffeine to boost your energy, focus, and mood.


Drinking more than this daily recommended amount may lead to overstimulation, so keeping your matcha intake within this range is ideal for balanced health benefits.


Matcha Tea Side Effects


While matcha tea is generally safe, excessive consumption can sometimes lead to caffeine-related side effects. Here are a few to be aware of:


  • Jitters or restlessness if you consume too much caffeine

  • Digestive upset, especially on an empty stomach

  • Headaches if sensitive to caffeine or if consumed in high quantities

  • Trouble sleeping if matcha is consumed late in the day


Enjoying matcha in moderate amounts lets you experience its many benefits without these side effects.

Matcha drink and powder with wooden spoon and bamboo whisk.

Additional Benefits of Drinking Matcha at Different Times

Matcha’s unique benefits go beyond a simple energy boost. Drinking matcha at different times can support focus, weight loss, and relaxation in your daily routine.

Matcha for Focus and Mental Clarity

Drinking matcha before or during work can significantly improve mental clarity and focus, making it an excellent choice for productivity. Matcha’s blend of caffeine and L-theanine helps sharpen your mind and sustain attention without causing the jitters.


This unique combination supports focus for extended periods, allowing you to stay engaged and alert, whether tackling a project or studying. Many people drink matcha for this smooth energy, which is ideal for anyone looking to enhance their daily concentration.

Matcha and Weight Loss

Matcha’s fat-burning properties make it a powerful addition to any weight management plan. Consuming matcha before a workout or as part of a balanced diet can boost your body’s metabolism and improve fat oxidation.


Drinking matcha tea before exercising helps you maximize calorie burn, making it an excellent supplement for weight loss goals. Additionally, matcha’s catechins help enhance fat-burning processes, supporting a leaner and healthier body over time.

Matcha for Relaxation and Stress Relief

A cup of matcha in the late afternoon is perfect for unwinding and relieving stress. The amino acid L-theanine found in matcha promotes relaxation by balancing caffeine’s stimulating effects, creating a calming effect that doesn’t make you sleepy. This makes drinking matcha tea in the afternoon an ideal choice to help you de-stress after a long day while keeping you alert and focused as you relax.

Unique Ways to Enjoy Matcha Green Tea Throughout the Day

You can enjoy matcha in various ways that suit your taste and lifestyle. Here are some creative ways to drink matcha tea at different times of the day.

Matcha Smoothies for a Morning Boost

Kickstart your morning with a matcha smoothie for an energizing blend of nutrients. Add one teaspoon of matcha powder to your favorite smoothie ingredients, such as almond milk, spinach, bananas, and a handful of berries.


This blend provides antioxidants, vitamins, and a steady energy boost to start your day strong. Drinking matcha green tea in a smoothie is also a great way to enjoy matcha’s health benefits if you’re new to its taste.

Iced Matcha Lattes for a Refreshing Afternoon

Perfect for warmer days, an iced matcha latte offers a fantastic and energizing way to enjoy matcha tea in the afternoon. Combine a half teaspoon of matcha powder with a splash of hot water, then add ice and almond milk, shaking or stirring until smooth. This refreshing beverage gives you a gentle energy lift without the heaviness of a hot drink, making it ideal for an afternoon pick-me-up.

Seasonal Matcha Recipes

Matcha can be enjoyed all year round with seasonal variations to suit your preferences. In the winter, cozy up with a hot matcha latte, combining matcha powder, hot water, and warmed milk for a comforting drink.


Try a chilled matcha lemonade in summer by mixing matcha powder, lemon juice, and ice water for a refreshing twist. These seasonal matcha recipes allow you to enjoy the finest matcha any time, no matter the season!

Iced matcha latte pictured from the top.

Maximize the Benefits by Drinking Matcha at the Right Time

You can fully unlock its potential benefits by aligning matcha tea with your daily schedule. Whether it’s a cup of matcha in the morning to kickstart your day, a pre-workout boost, or an afternoon energy lift, drinking matcha tea at strategic times can enhance focus, increase energy, and support fat-burning. Unlike coffee, matcha’s combination of caffeine and L-theanine offers sustained energy without jitters, making it a versatile superfood that elevates your health routine any time of day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time of day is best to drink matcha?

The best time to drink matcha is typically in the morning or early afternoon for a balanced energy boost.

Is matcha better in the morning or afternoon?

Both times are great! Matcha in the morning boosts energy and focus, while an afternoon cup can refresh you without affecting sleep.

Can matcha help with weight loss?

Yes, drinking matcha before workouts or meals may aid weight loss by boosting metabolism and fat burning.

How much matcha should I drink in a day?

A moderate intake of 1–2 cups per day is ideal to enjoy matcha’s benefits without overconsumption.

Does matcha have more caffeine than coffee?

No, matcha has less caffeine than coffee but provides a smoother, longer-lasting energy boost.

REFERENCES

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  2. Hursel, R., & Westerterp-Plantenga, M. S. (2013). Catechin- and caffeine-rich teas for control of body weight in humans. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 98(6 Suppl), 1682S–1693S. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.058396

  3. Kochman, J., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J., Mruk, H., & Janda, K. (2020). Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(1), 85. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010085

  4. Kim, Y., Keogh, J. B., & Clifton, P. M. (2016). Polyphenols and Glycemic Control. Nutrients, 8(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8010017

  5. Morley, N., Clifford, T., Salter, L., Campbell, S., Gould, D., & Curnow, A. (2005). The green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin gallate and green tea can protect human cellular DNA from ultraviolet and visible radiation-induced damage. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine, 21(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0781.2005.00119.x

  6. Smith, A., & Nutt, D. (1996). Noradrenaline and attention lapses. Nature, 380(6572), 291. https://doi.org/10.1038/380291a0 

Medically Reviewed By

Dr. James Pendleton

Dr. James Pendleton is a primary care physician specializing in a naturopathic approach to family medicine. He has nurtured a family practice in Seattle, directed a VIP medical center in Abu Dhabi, published several books and scientific articles, and designed innovative nutritional supplements for manufacturers worldwide.