What matcha does Starbucks use? At Starbucks, matcha drinks are made using matcha powder sourced from Japan. For many years, Starbucks used a sweetened matcha powder that contained both ground green tea and sugar. However, starting in 2025, Starbucks began switching to unsweetened matcha powder so customers can control the sweetness in their drinks.

Matcha is used in popular Starbucks beverages like the Matcha Latte and Iced Matcha Latte. Understanding what matcha powder Starbucks uses helps explain the flavor, sugar content, and nutritional value of these drinks.

Starbucks previously used sweetened matcha powder mixed with sugar, but newer recipes now use unsweetened Japanese matcha powder, allowing customers to add sweeteners separately.

Starbucks Matcha Powder Ingredients

The matcha powder used at Starbucks is designed for large-scale drink preparation and consistent flavor across thousands of stores.

Previously, the Starbucks matcha powder included:

• Finely ground green tea powder
• Added sugar
• Stabilizing ingredients for consistent taste

Because sugar was mixed directly into the powder, customers could not order matcha completely sugar-free in earlier recipes.

The newer unsweetened matcha powder removes this limitation and allows baristas to add sweetness separately.

Why Starbucks Used Sweetened Matcha Powder Before

Global coffee chains like Starbucks must keep drink flavors consistent across all locations. Sweetened matcha powder helped achieve this because it:

• Maintained consistent flavor worldwide
• Made drink preparation easier for baristas
• Reduced the need for extra syrups or sweeteners

However, the downside was the high sugar content in matcha drinks.

Sugar in Starbucks Matcha Drinks

One of the main concerns customers had with Starbucks matcha drinks was the sugar content.

For example:

Drink	Size	Sugar
Matcha Latte	Grande (16 oz)	~32 g

This amount of sugar is similar to a can of soda, which is why many customers asked Starbucks to change the recipe.

The introduction of unsweetened matcha powder helps reduce the total sugar in matcha drinks.

Stay update on Latest Starbucks Menu.

How Starbucks Matcha Is Different From Traditional Matcha

Traditional Japanese matcha is produced through a careful process that includes:

• Growing tea plants in shade before harvest
• Removing stems and veins from leaves
• Grinding leaves slowly with stone mills

This produces ceremonial-grade matcha, which has a bright green color and smooth flavor.

The matcha used in Starbucks drinks is usually culinary-grade matcha, which is more suitable for lattes and blended beverages.

Popular Starbucks Matcha Drinks

Matcha powder is used in several drinks at Starbucks, including:

• Matcha Latte
• Iced Matcha Latte
• Matcha Frappuccino
• Matcha Lemonade

These drinks combine matcha powder with milk, ice, and optional sweeteners.

Starbucks Matcha Powder Nutrition

The Starbucks matcha powder nutrition profile is relatively simple, but the total calories in a drink depend on how many scoops are used. At Starbucks, matcha powder is made from finely ground green tea and used in drinks like the Matcha Latte and Iced Matcha Latte.

One scoop of Starbucks matcha powder contains about 25 calories and 5–6 grams of sugar. Because multiple scoops are used in most drinks, the calories and sugar can increase quickly.

Nutrition Per Scoop of Starbucks Matcha Powder

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	25 kcal
Carbohydrates	6 g
Sugar	5 g
Fat	0–0.1 g
Protein	0–0.3 g

A Grande Matcha Latte typically includes three scoops of matcha powder, which adds around 75 calories and 15 grams of sugar before milk or syrups are added. Matcha also contains natural caffeine and antioxidants, which contribute to the drink’s energy boost and green tea benefits.

Also read related Blog What Does Matcha Taste Like at Starbucks

Does Starbucks use Ceremonial Grade Matcha

No, Starbucks does not use ceremonial grade matcha in its drinks. The matcha powder used in Starbucks beverages is generally considered culinary or standard grade, which is made for mixing in lattes and blended drinks rather than for traditional tea ceremonies.

In the past, Starbucks matcha powder was pre-sweetened and blended with sugar, which increased the sugar content of drinks like the Matcha Latte. However, many locations updated the formula in 2025 and now use an unsweetened matcha powder.

To learn more about the chai ingredients and blends used by Starbucks, check out our detailed guide on What Chai Does Starbucks Use?.

Is Starbucks Matcha Healthy?

Matcha itself contains antioxidants, caffeine, and plant compounds that may support energy and focus.

However, the health impact depends on how the drink is prepared. Drinks with added syrups, sweeteners, or whipped cream will contain more sugar and calories.

Choosing unsweetened matcha drinks with less syrup can make Starbucks matcha beverages healthier.

FAQs

What matcha does Starbucks use?

Starbucks uses matcha powder sourced from Japan. Previously it was a sweetened matcha blend, but newer recipes use unsweetened matcha powder.

Is Starbucks matcha sweetened?

Older Starbucks matcha powder contained added sugar, but the updated version introduced in 2025 is unsweetened.

Is Starbucks matcha real matcha?

Yes. Starbucks uses ground green tea powder, but it is generally culinary-grade matcha rather than ceremonial-grade matcha.

How much sugar is in a Starbucks Matcha Latte?

A Grande Matcha Latte can contain around 32 grams of sugar, depending on milk and added syrups.

Can you order Starbucks matcha without sugar?

Yes. With the new unsweetened matcha powder, customers can order matcha drinks without added sugar.