MatchaDB

Research topic

Matcha and cognition, mood and stress: the research

This is the human-facing side of matcha research: randomized trials and observational studies that measure attention, memory, mood, stress hormones or sleep after people drink matcha, take matcha extracts, or eat matcha foods.

Sample sizes are often small and many studies are short, so reviews that pool several trials are a good place to start before reading individual papers.

136

studies

2009–2026

years covered

98

from the last five years

95

free to read

What kind of evidence is this?

  • Animal study31
  • Other / not stated24
  • Review21
  • Randomized controlled trial17
  • Observational (human)13
  • Food science / processing8
  • Clinical trial (non-randomized)6
  • Not classified (no abstract)5
  • Systematic review / meta-analysis4
  • Chemical / analytical3
  • In vitro / cell study3
  • Agronomy / cultivation1

Look at the study type tag first. A randomized controlled trial or systematic review carries more weight than a single observational study or a lab experiment.

Common keywords

green tea 58caffeine 43theanine 41epigallocatechin gallate 37catechins 32oxidative stress 32antioxidant activity 23camellia sinensis 21antioxidants 20cognitive function 17matcha tea 16polyphenols 15stress reduction 15anxiety 15

Most recognized studies on this topic

Ranked by recency, citations, journal standing and study design.

2024Journal articleFree to read

Effect of matcha green tea on cognitive functions and sleep quality in older adults with cognitive decline: A randomized controlled study over 12 months.

Uchida K, Meno K, Korenaga T, et al. — PloS one

Objective: Lifestyle habits after middle age significantly impact the maintenance of cognitive function in older adults. Nutritional intake is closely related to lifestyle habits; therefore, nutrition is a pivotal factor in the prevention…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 25×
2020Journal articleFree to read

Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review.

Kochman J, Jakubczyk K, Antoniewicz J, et al. — Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Japanese matcha is a type of powdered green tea, grown in a traditional way. Shading of the plants during the growth period enhances the processes of synthesis and accumulation of biologically active compounds, including theanine,…

ReviewCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 321×
2024Journal articleFree to read

Green Packaging Films with Antioxidant Activity Based on Pectin and Camellia sinensis Leaf Extract.

Dobrucka R, Pawlik M, Szymański M — Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

In the packaging materials sector, increasing globalization has created the need for increased efforts to develop consumer protection measures. Consequently, new packaging materials are being sought to replace petroleum-based materials in…

Observational (human)Antioxidants and polyphenolsCognition, mood and stressFood products and applicationsCited 23×
2024Journal articleFree to read

Matcha Does Not Affect Electroencephalography during Sleep but May Enhance Mental Well-Being: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Baba Y, Takihara T, Okamura N — Nutrients

Although theanine in matcha improves sleep quality and cognitive function, the caffeine in green tea is thought to worsen sleep quality. Therefore, this study investigated the factors behind the observed improvements in subjective sleep…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 8×
2021Journal articleFree to read

Effects of Daily Matcha and Caffeine Intake on Mild Acute Psychological Stress-Related Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.

Baba Y, Inagaki S, Nakagawa S, et al. — Nutrients

Matcha, a type of green tea, has a higher amino acid content than other types of tea. We previously examined the ability of matcha to improve cognitive function in older adults and determined that continuous matcha intake improves…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressL-theanine and caffeineCited 32×
2020Journal articleFree to read

Effects of Matcha Green Tea Powder on Cognitive Functions of Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals.

Sakurai K, Shen C, Ezaki Y, et al. — Nutrients

Matcha Green Tea Powder contains a variety of active ingredients beneficial to health, such as tea catechins, lutein and vitamin K. It is also known that these ingredients confer benefits upon cognitive functions of elderly people.…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsProcessing, milling and qualityCited 46×
2021Journal articleFree to read

The science of matcha: Bioactive compounds, analytical techniques and biological properties

Hari Prasad Devkota, Bhakta Prasad Gaire, Kengo Hori, et al. — Trends in Food Science & Technology

The interest in the plant-derived healthy foods, nutraceuticals, functional foods and food supplements is increasing in recent times as potential agents in maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of diseases. Matcha tea…

ReviewAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 61×
2023Journal articleFree to read

Matcha green tea beverage moderates fatigue and supports resistance training-induced adaptation.

Shigeta M, Aoi W, Morita C, et al. — Nutrition journal

Background: Resistance training adaptively increases muscle strength and mass, contributing to athletic performance and health promotion. Dietary intervention with natural foods provides nutrients that help accelerate muscle adaptation to…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressMetabolism and weightGut and microbiomeCited 23×
2023Journal articleFree to read

The therapeutic potential of matcha tea: A critical review on human and animal studies.

Sokary S, Al-Asmakh M, Zakaria Z, et al. — Current research in food science

Matcha is a powdered form of Japanese green tea that has been gaining global popularity recently. Matcha tea has various health benefits, including an enhancing effect on cognitive function, cardio-metabolic health, and anti-tumorogenesis.…

ReviewCognition, mood and stressMetabolism and weightCardiovascular and blood pressureCited 49×
2018Journal articleFree to read

Stress-Reducing Function of Matcha Green Tea in Animal Experiments and Clinical Trials.

Unno K, Furushima D, Hamamoto S, et al. — Nutrients

Theanine, a major amino acid in green tea, exhibits a stress-reducing effect in mice and humans. Matcha, which is essentially theanine-rich powdered green tea, is abundant in caffeine. Caffeine has a strong antagonistic effect against…

Randomized controlled trialCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 84×
Search all 136 studies on this topic

Newest research

2026Journal articleFree to read

A CE/TA-stratified systematic review and evidence map of matcha and green tea bioactives in endocrine stress regulation: testosterone, cortisol, and the T:C ratio.

Alanazi A, Alanzi R, Abdo AAA — Frontiers in nutrition

Matcha and green-tea bioactives are widely promoted for stress and hormonal health, yet the evidence is fragmented across chemically dissimilar preparations (whole-leaf matcha, brewed green tea, isolated L-theanine, and concentrated…

Systematic review / meta-analysisCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeine
2026Journal article

A Study on Matcha Latte Consumption Trends as Reflected in Korean News Media

Bae-young Choi — Association for International Tea Culture

This study aimed to identify consumption trends in matcha latte using domestic news media data and to present implications for enhancing its sustainability. To this end, 781 news articles published between January 1, 2006, and December 31,…

Observational (human)L-theanine and caffeineFood products and applicationsMarket, culture and sustainability
2026Journal article

Anxiolytic-like effects using adult zebrafish, bioaccessibility and phenolic profile of matcha and sugarcane beverages.

Tavares TRP, De Menezes FL, De Brito Araújo AJ, et al. — Nutritional neuroscience

Background: This work presents the development of functional beverages for brain health support formulated with matcha, sugarcane juice, and medicinal plants chamomile (CT) and lemon balm (LB) tea extracts. Methods: For this, the…

Animal studyCognition, mood and stressSkin, oral and dentalFood products and applications
2026Journal articleFree to read

Barista Interpersonal Communication Strategy in Increasing Customer Satisfaction at Coffee Shop Titik Koma Matcha Club Multatuli Medan

Hawa Nur Illahi Lubis, Farhan Indra — Journal of Multidisciplinary Science MIKAILALSYS

The rapid expansion of the coffee shop industry has intensified competition in delivering superior customer experiences, positioning interpersonal communication as a critical determinant of customer satisfaction. Although previous studies…

Food science / processingProcessing, milling and qualityFood products and applicationsCognition, mood and stress
2026Journal articleFree to read

Compositional Diversity and Functional Interactions of Bioactive Compounds in Japanese Green Tea: Focus on Matcha, Sencha, and Gyokuro.

Unno K, Kameoka Y, Nakamura Y — Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Japanese green teas, including matcha, sencha, and gyokuro, are derived from the leaves of Camellia sinensis and contain bioactive compounds such as catechins, caffeine, and amino acids, notably theanine. However, the amounts and ratios of…

ReviewCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeine

Related topics

L-theanine and caffeinePeer-reviewed studies on matcha's L-theanine and caffeine content, how they interact, and what trials report about attention, alertness and calm.Metabolism and weightHuman, animal and cell studies on matcha and green tea for body weight, fat metabolism, blood sugar, cholesterol and fatty liver.Inflammation and immunityCell, animal and human studies on matcha's effects on inflammation markers and immune function.

This page describes what published studies examine; it is not medical advice, and a study being listed is not an endorsement of its findings. Topic tags and study types are assigned automatically from each paper's text (see how the library is built). Library last rebuilt October 20, 2026.