Muscat – Matcha may offer health benefits, but sugar, flavoured syrups and other additions can turn the popular green drink into a high-calorie beverage, Ministry of Health (MoH) has cautioned.

The advice is part of the ministry’s ‘Healthy, Not Just a Trend’ campaign, which examines widely promoted foods and drinks to distinguish evidence-based benefits from social media claims.

Matcha is a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves and is consumed whole rather than steeped and discarded. Its nutritional value, however, depends on the quality of the powder and how the drink is prepared, the ministry said.

It contains catechins, including the antioxidant EGCG, as well as caffeine and L-theanine. These compounds may support alertness and concentration, while green tea consumption has been linked to modest cardiovascular and metabolic benefits.

However, research specifically examining matcha remains limited, with studies producing mixed findings on some claimed benefits and researchers calling for more clinical trials.

The ministry warned that excessive consumption could cause sleeplessness, anxiety or heart palpitations among people sensitive to caffeine. Commercial matcha drinks may also contain large quantities of sugar through sweetened milk, cream and syrups.

For healthier preparation, MoH recommended using 1g to 2g of powder from a trusted source, mixing it first with water heated to between 70°C and 80°C, and avoiding excessive sweeteners.

Unsweetened milk or plant-based alternatives can be used, while consumption should remain moderate, particularly among pregnant women and people sensitive to caffeine. Health authorities generally advise pregnant women to limit total caffeine intake from all sources.