It’s matcha-ing their guts churn.
Green drink-guzzling TikTokers are claiming that their matcha lattes, from Starbucks and other coffee cafes, are making their tummies twist and turn.
“Do not have Starbucks matcha on an empty stomach,” wrote Maeve Madden in a TikTok post on Oct. 21. “I am in sooo much pain right now.”
Madden, who calls herself an avid matcha drinker, insisted it was her first time trying Starbucks’ version of the oat milk iced matcha tea latte — and “instantly” regretted it.
“Halfway through my drink, I started experiencing stomach cramps that became more and more severe,” Madden told the Post. “I felt nauseous and felt severe contractions throughout my whole abdomen.”
Starbucks’s green-hued brew is made of typical matcha latte ingredients: milk (regular or alternative), a water-soluble powder-blend of green tea (that’s the matcha) and ice, coming in at 200 calories, according to their website. The Post reached out to the coffee chain for comment.
Other TikTokers have shared similar experiences with the trendy beverage though it’s unclear whether they believe their case of bubble gut came down to poor timing, as Madden has hypothesized, or something in the drink itself.
“I was close to having to take myself to hospital but the cramps started to ease when I lay on my side and drank hot water and ginger,” said @coffeekristinaa in a video shared earlier this year. “I’ve never experienced that much pain before.”
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As rumors of matcha’s fall from grace bubbled over on TikTok, the self-proclaimed “Matcha Mommy,” who says she can’t go a day without it, recently provided pro tips to help green drink devotees avoid the next caffeine-induced tummy attack.
“You should avoid drinking matcha if you haven’t eaten yet. Having matcha on an empty stomach can temporarily increase stomach acid levels, which can then cause an upset stomach,” she said.
Caffeine may cause digestive discomfort by triggering digestive enzymes, causing an increase in gastric acid and speeding up your bowels, according to Healthline. And while the average cup of coffee may carry up to twice the caffeine content of matcha — 100-140 mg vs. 70 mg, per the Teamakers of London — some drinkers have a lower tolerance for stimulants than others.
Coffee and teas also contain tannins (tannic acid) which, too, can cause nausea and digestion if consumed on an empty stomach. Perfect Ted, a matcha company, devoted an entire webpage of their site to answering questions about a matcha-induced upset stomach. Tannins, they warn, “can irritate your natural digestion due to their interference with enzyme function.”
“Pair your matcha intake with a light meal or a non-dairy drink,” they advise.
Despite the occasional digestive pitfalls, coffees and teas — with caffeine and tannins therein — do boast some health benefits, offering liver protection, decreased cancer risk, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, an immune system boost and an overall lower risk of premature death.
