Do you know if Starbucks matcha powder is sweetened? Is Starbucks matcha powder healthy? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.
Starbucks matcha powder is sweetened. It is made of only ground green tea and sugar. This makes it less of a healthy option than you may think if you were expecting an unsweetened version.
People love Starbucks’ matcha drinks because matcha has a unique taste and it is supposed to have many health benefits.
Watch for added sugar, though, that may be making matcha at Starbucks a less healthy option than you expected.
Table of Contents
Is Starbucks Matcha Powder Sweetened?
According to the Starbucks website, Starbucks’s matcha tea blend powder contains ground green tea and sugar. So, yes, this matcha powder is sweetened. If you add extra sugar to your tea, you could end up with an incredibly sugary drink.
Take note, also, that most people drinking matcha at Starbucks are drinking a matcha latte. That latte will also have extra sugar and fat.
The total amount of sugar and fat will vary based on the kind of milk you use in the latte.
Read also >> Is Starbucks Almond Milk Sweetened? (All You Need To Know)
Read also >> Is Starbucks Coconut Milk Unsweetened (Healthy? Here Is Why)
What is the Starbucks Matcha Powder Sweetened With?
Starbucks sweetens their matcha powder with sugar. Their website does not specify which kind of sugar.
This detail means that the composition of the matcha powder at Starbucks is 50% sugar, and 50% green tea powder.
How Much Sugar is in Starbucks Matcha Powder?
Starbucks matcha powder has quite a bit of sugar. The website does not list the sugar content of only the matcha powder, but they do include the sugar content of a matcha latte in the various drink sizes offered.
Starbucks has 4 different drink sizes, and the amount of sugar in each drink varies because they use a different number of scoops of matcha powder for each drink size.
The following table shows how much sugar is in the various sizes of matcha lattes at Starbucks. Note: This is assuming a standard recipe with 2% milk.
Other milk options may slightly vary the sugar content.
| Drink Size | Total Sugar Content |
|---|---|
| Short (8 ounces) | 14 grams |
| Tall (12 ounces) | 24 grams |
| Grande (16 ounces) | 32 grams |
| Venti (24 ounces) | 43 grams |
How Many Calories Are in a Starbucks Matcha Latte?
Now that you know how much sugar is included in a matcha latte, you may be wondering if there are also a lot of calories in the Starbucks lattes.
These drinks are not exactly low-calorie beverages, though they are much lower in calories than many other Starbucks drinks.
The following table has the calorie count for the matcha lattes in various sizes available at Starbucks.
Note: This is assuming a standard recipe (no extra pumps of flavoring or sweetener) with 2% milk. Other milk options or customizations may vary the calorie total.
| Drink Size | Total Calories |
|---|---|
| Short (8 ounces) | 110 calories |
| Tall (12 ounces) | 190 calories |
| Grande (16 ounces) | 240 calories |
| Venti (24 ounces) | 320 calories |
Can You make a Starbucks Matcha Latte Healthier?
If you are trying to cut down on calories or sugar and you want the added health benefits of matcha, the easiest way is to make your matcha latte at home.
That way you can control exactly how much sugar, milk, and fat you add.
However, it is not always easy to make your drinks. You may be on the run. Maybe you want to grab a drink at Starbucks with friends.
If you want to make the drink healthier in these circumstances, you still can cut down somewhat on the amount of sugar in the latte.
Using almond milk as your milk option in the latte can help you cut down on the total number of calories and sugar.
If you are ordering a tall latte, the almond milk will have around 80 calories and 4 grams of sugar. This is quite a bit less when you compare it to the 2% milk, which will add around 150 calories and 14 grams of sugar.
You could also order fewer scoops of matcha. This is also a good option for someone who wants less caffeine or a milder drink. You could order a tall, venti, or grande, but ask for only one scoop of matcha powder.
Starbucks also has matcha lemonade, iced lattes, and frappucinos. Substituting almond milk in any of these (except the lemonade, which has no milk) is a great way to cut down on the total fat, sugar, and calorie content of these drinks.
Read also >> Is Starbucks Matcha Sweetened? (Is It Healthy?)
Can You Order an Unsweetened Matcha Latte at Starbucks?
If you are looking for a healthy option, you may say, “can I just order a matcha latte without the sweetener? Then I can add as much sugar as I want (or don’t want).” Unfortunately, it is not that easy.
Starbucks makes all of their matcha beverages with matcha powder, which includes sugar. You cannot have the matcha powder without the sugar, so there is no way to order an unsweetened matcha latte at Starbucks.
Do All Starbucks Teas Have Sugar?
No, not all Starbucks teas come pre-sweetened as the matcha powder does. The chai syrup used in chai lattes has honey, which still does have sugar content, just in a different form.
Many of the brewed teas, like the Jade Citrus Mint tea, do not contain any added sugar.
What Healthy Options Does Starbucks Have?
Not all of the drinks at Starbucks are full of sugar. Many are packed with it, because people love the sweet taste. But, if you are looking for a healthier option, try one of these popular drinks:
- Chai Latte
- Nonfat Cappuccino
- Very Berry Hibiscus Refresher
- Peach Tranquility Tea
- Iced Skinny Latte
Read also >> How Many Types Of Coffee Does Starbucks Have (Completed List)
Conclusion
Starbucks matcha powder does include sugar. This makes it a fairly sweet drink out of all of the Starbucks options.
The milk choice you make can also affect how healthy this drink is.
If you want to cut out some of the sugar, you can order almond milk or ask for less matcha powder to help.
References
https://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/starbucks-matcha-isnt-healthy-you-think-it
https://www.starbucks.com/menu/product/468/hot/nutrition
https://fastfoodnutrition.org/news/healthiest-starbucks-milk
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