MatchaDB

Research

The Global Matcha Research Library

641 papers, trials, theses and preprints that study matcha, gathered from PubMed, OpenAlex and Europe PMC, tagged by study type and topic, and linked back to every source. We keep abstracts and citations; the full text stays with its publisher.

Tip: use "quotes" for an exact phrase, OR between alternatives, and a minus to leave a word out, for example fluoride OR pesticide. Related words are matched too, so “EGCG” also finds “epigallocatechin.”

18 studies match for “free amino acids”

2021Journal article

Intelligent evaluation of taste constituents and polyphenols-to-amino acids ratio in matcha tea powder using near infrared spectroscopy.

Guo Z, Barimah AO, Yin L, et al. — Food chemistry

… method for the quality evaluation of matcha tea. Total polyphenols (TP), free amino acids (FAA), and polyphenols-to-amino acids ratio (TP/FAA) were assessed as the taste quality indicators. Successive projections algorithm (SPA), …

Chemical / analyticalAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 117×
2020Journal articleFree to read

Free and bound amino acids, minerals and trace elements in matcha (Camellia sinensis L.): A nutritional evaluation

Tereza Koláčková, Daniela Sumczynski, Ludmila Zálešáková, et al. — Journal of Food Composition and Analysis

This study provides an overview of free and bound amino acids, minerals and trace elements content in matcha including evaluation of their dietary intakes. The analyses employed IEC and ICP-MS methods. Theanine followed by Glu, GABA, Thr …

ReviewL-theanine and caffeineSafety, contaminants and toxicityCited 22×
2024Journal article

Rapid determination of free amino acids and caffeine in matcha using near-infrared spectroscopy: A comparison of portable and benchtop systems

Ouyang Q, Liu L, Wang L, et al. — Journal of food composition and analysis : an official publication of the United Nations University, International Network of Food Data Systems

… of its worthy compositions and health benefits. This work proposed to predict free amino acids (FAA) and caffeine contents in matcha using a portable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy system combined with two different acquisition …

Chemical / analyticalL-theanine and caffeineAuthenticity and analytical methodsMetabolism and weight
2024Journal article

Comprehensive assessment of matcha qualities and visualization of constituents using hyperspectral imaging technology.

Hu Y, Yu H, Song X, et al. — Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

… uses HSI to visually visualize spatial variations in constitutions (catechins, free amino acids, caffeine, soluble proteins, and soluble sugars) to show compositional differences between different types of matcha, providing a rapid …

Randomized controlled trialAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 17×
2023Journal article

Application of visible-near infrared spectroscopy in tandem with multivariate analysis for the rapid evaluation of matcha physicochemical indicators.

Wu J, Zareef M, Chen Q, et al. — Food chemistry

… non-invasive evaluation of particle size and the ratio of tea polyphenols to free amino acids (P/F ratio) of matcha. The multivariate selection algorithms such as synergy interval (Si), variable combination population analysis (VCPA), …

Observational (human)Metabolism and weightAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCited 56×
2021Journal article

Simultaneous quantification of chemical constituents in matcha with visible-near infrared hyperspectral imaging technology.

Ouyang Q, Wang L, Park B, et al. — Food chemistry

… to be 0.8077 for caffeine, 0.7098 for tea polyphenols (TPs), 0.7942 for free amino acids (FAAs), 0.8314 for the ratio of TPs to FAAs, and 0.8473 for chlorophyll. These findings highlight the potential of VNIR-HSI technology as a …

Chemical / analyticalAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 77×
2026Journal articleFree to read

Mechanized whisking reconstructs matcha foam structure and sensory quality toward hand-whisking

Jiaxin Wu, Zhirui Ye, Jiayi Xu, et al. — LWT

… factors up to 2.21), in the foam phase under high-foaming conditions, whereas free amino acids showed opposite trends under two foaming conditions. Multiscale characterization further showed that enhanced foam performance was associated …

Observational (human)Antioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineSkin, oral and dental
2023Journal article

Changes in Matcha Quality and Growth Characteristics from Cultivation under Different Shading

The Korean Tea Society, Changhyun Sung, Jung Gyu Hwang, et al. — 한국차학회지

… highest from no shade, with leaves absorbing the most light energy, and the free amino acid content was highest under SD-SD. The results of taste analysis through an electronic tongue showed the highest sour taste and umami from S-SD, …

Food science / processingAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCultivation and shading
2024Journal articleFree to read

Quality analysis and antioxidant activity of different types of tea powder

Yutong Ye, Zeyi Ai, Ronglin Li, et al. — Food Production Processing and Nutrition

… revealed that tea powders with more fermentation usually contained fewer amino acids and catechins, but glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid were higher in black TP than in oolong TP. Theanine, glutamic acid and arginine were the …

Chemical / analyticalAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 10×
2018Journal articleFree to read

Comparison of the Chemical Components of Powdered Green Tea Sold in the US

Hideki Horie, Kaori Ema, Hiroshi NISHIKAWA, et al. — Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly JARQ

… Japanese tea ceremony. They showed a higher content of chlorophyll and of free amino acids (theanine and arginine) than the less expensive teas. They also showed a lower content of epigallocatechin as well as a lower conversion …

Other / not statedAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineProcessing, milling and qualityCited 14×
2025Thesis or dissertationFree to read

Bebida vegetal de soja com adição de matcha

M Silva — Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)

… cinzas, hidratos de carbono e valor energético), química (açúcares livres, aminoácidos, ácidos orgânicos, ácidos gordos, tocoferóis e compostos fenólicos) e bioativa (atividade antioxidante, atividade prebiótica e citocompatibilidade) …

Animal studyAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineFood products and applications
2018Journal article

Changes on Physicochemical and Matcha Quality of Tea Leaves (Camellia sinensis) under Shading Cultivation

Jung Gyu Hwang, Doobo Shim, Hyeon Jeong Im, et al. — 한국차학회지

… than non-shading cultivation. The shading cultivation increased the total free amino acid (3.4-fold), theanine (3.7-fold), arginine (10.8-fold) and caffeine levels (2.0-fold) but decreased the total catechin contents, EGCG …

Agronomy / cultivationAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeineCultivation and shadingCited 4×
2025Journal article

Gene expression regulation of the effect of shading on chlorophyll content in Fuding white tea (Camellia sinensis L.).

Li G, Chen X, Zhao Y, et al. — Tree physiology

… of theanine in tea plants were affected by down regulation of gene encoding amino acid permeases, theanine content in tea leaves that grown under shading condition was significantly higher than those under natural light. In this study, …

Agronomy / cultivationMetabolism and weightL-theanine and caffeineCultivation and shadingCited 7×
2026Journal articleFree to read

Ozoku Matcha – Premium Shade-Grown Green Tea for Energy & Antioxidants

Ozoku Matcha — Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

… the final weeks of growth, the plants produce higher levels of chlorophyll and amino acids, particularly L-Theanine. This process results in a richer green color, smoother flavor, and a more concentrated source of nutrients. Unlike …

Food science / processingCognition, mood and stressAntioxidants and polyphenolsL-theanine and caffeine

How this library is built

Every record comes from three open scholarly indexes — PubMed, OpenAlex and Europe PMC — searched for the word “matcha.” Records are merged by DOI and PubMed ID so each study appears once. A paper is kept only if matcha appears in its title, abstract, author keywords or subject terms and the text is about tea or food, which filters out the surname Matcha, software called Matcha, and the Scandinavian verb “matcha” (to match).

Study type and topic tags are assigned automatically from each paper's own title, abstract and subject terms using fixed keyword rules — no guesses, and papers without an abstract are marked as unclassified. Automatic tagging is imperfect, so treat tags as a way to narrow a search, not as a verdict on a paper's quality. A study being listed here is not an endorsement of its findings.

Coverage: this is every indexed paper that names matcha, not every study of green tea or its compounds (those are far more numerous). Papers that mention matcha only in passing are hidden by default. Work that never uses the word “matcha,” and publications outside these indexes, are not included. The library was last rebuilt October 20, 2026.

Spot a paper that doesn't belong, or one that's missing? Tell us.